Editorial September 3, 2001 Issue

Balanced lives in the emerging economy

Russ Gerber

There's been a lot of lively public conversation on how the new economy is affecting people's lives. In roundtable discussions on news programs, guests talk about our interconnected world and how it's dealing with unprecedented opportunities, expanded competition, and cheaper, faster, more powerful products.

But while some people see this as a time of expansion and prosperity, others are not so sure. People are also talking about how difficult the balancing act is between having economic security, but also having a strong family life and being a good citizen.

Robert Reich, who served in both the Ford and Clinton administrations, has kept a close eye on these economic and social trends. In a recent conversation with the Christian Science Sentinel—Radio Edition, he acknowledged the escalating pace and demands of the global, high-tech economy, and the impact they are having, especially in the workplace. "The demands of the new work, the hustle that it entails, are eating away at much of the rest of our lives," Reich explained.

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