Men Without Work: Is a Hidden Trend Fueling American Populism?

American men’s work rates have fallen relentlessly since the 1950s, with prime-age male labor force participation now approaching Depression-era lows—a trend political economist Nicholas Eberstadt has spent decades documenting. In this episode of Terms of Engagement, Eberstadt joins hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer to unpack how this quiet collapse in male employment has shaped not just the economy but American manhood itself, eroding the social role and cultural expectations long tied to work. They discuss links between “un-working” men and the rise of populist politics in the U.S., why this trend remained hidden in official unemployment statistics for so long, and what it reveals about the fraying bonds between work, dignity, and civic life. About our Guest:  Nicholas Eberstadt is a political economist at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he researches and writes extensively on demographics, economic development, and international security. Domestically, he focuses on poverty and social well-being. He has written a number of books including “Men Without Work,” “A Nation of Takers,” and “The Tyranny of Numbers.” He has offered invited testimony before Congress on numerous occasions and has served as consultant or adviser for a variety of U.S. government agencies. Eberstadt earned his PhD in political economy and government and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an AB from Harvard University. About Terms of Engagement From rank-choice voting to reconciliation, American democracy is headline news. Let’s talk about it. Join Harvard Ash Center's Archon Fung and Stephen Richer for a weekly conversation about the latest developments in American politics. Blending perspectives from both the political right and left, Terms of Engagement addresses breaking news, providing insights from research and practice to deliver a unique perspective you won’t hear anywhere else. Contact UsSend questions, ideas, and feedback to us at info@ash.harvard.edu. About the HostsArchon Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. His research explores policies, practices, and institutional designs that deepen the quality of democratic governance with a focus on public participation, deliberation, and transparency. He has authored five books, four edited collections, and over fifty articles appearing in professional journals. He received two S.B.s — in philosophy and physics — and his Ph.D. in political science from MIT.Stephen Richer is the former elected Maricopa County Recorder, responsible for voter registration, early voting administration, and public recordings in Maricopa County, Arizona, the fourth largest county in the United States. Prior to being an elected official, Stephen worked at several public policy think tanks and as a business transactions attorney.  Stephen received his J.D. and M.A. from The University of Chicago and his B.A. from Tulane University.Stephen has been broadly recognized for his work in elections and American Democracy.  In 2021, the Arizona Republic named Stephen “Arizonan of the Year.”  In 2022, the Maricopa Bar Association awarded Stephen “Public Law Attorney of the Year.”  In 2023, Stephen won “Leader of the Year” from the Arizona Capitol Times.  And in 2024, Time Magazine named Stephen a “Defender of Democracy.” About the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationThe Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, a research center at Harvard Kennedy School, is Harvard’s hub for the study, discussion, and analysis of democracy. The Ash Center’s mission is to develop ideas and foster practices for equal and inclusive, multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy and self-government. Music Credit: Straight to the Point, Music Media Group