The Accordion Family: Boomerang Kids, Anxious Parents, and the Private Toll of Global Competition

Why are adults in their twenties and thirties boomeranging back to or never leaving their parents’ homes in the world’s wealthiest countries? Acclaimed sociologist Katherine Newman addresses this phenomenon in this timely and original book that uncovers fascinating links between globalization and the failure-to-launch trend. With over 300 interviews conducted in six countries, Newman concludes that nations with weak welfare states have the highest frequency of accordion families. She thoughtfully considers the positive and negative implications of these new relationships and suggests that as globalization reshapes the economic landscape it also continues to redefine our private lives.