A People's Economic History of California

A People’s Economic History of California tells the story of the nation’s richest state through the economic lives of its people. It explores a remarkable paradox: How can one of the world’s largest economies generate extraordinary wealth while leaving millions unable to afford housing, childcare, health care, or adequate food? Tracing California’s transformation from Indigenous societies and the Gold Rush to Silicon Valley, the book shows how prosperity has been created, distributed, and too often withheld. Jamshid Damooei and Sabith Khan show that California’s extraordinary economic growth has left millions of working families and disenfranchised communities unable to achieve a dignified life. Through rigorous economic analysis, the authors explain why many policies have failed or were never developed, while offering creative ideas and evidence-based policy recommendations for building a more inclusive California where prosperity is measured not only by wealth but also by human dignity and shared opportunity.