The Fifth Freedom

Reviews / Votes

Passion is not a characteristic normally associated with the Federal Reserve but Erickson, a senior vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, displays a fair share of it in this important albeit somewhat wonky book. Frustrated by the prevailing focus on the downstream consequences of poverty, such as drug treatment or job training programs, he argues that Americans should shift significant resources to the upstream causes of deprivation. As he argues, the US must pay more attention earlier on to what he dubs "guardrails" (good schools, affordable housing, fresh food) that set children on the right path and "airbags" (mentors; enrichment programs; access to sports, nature, and the arts) that can intervene to rescue those who are skidding off the track. Erickson knows that such a shift in emphasis will meet resistance, but he insists that creating a "market that favors health" will ultimately prove more beneficial to all, and he offers numerous examples of organizations and funders already moving in this direction. The Fifth Freedom is hardly bedside reading. More policy paper than stirring narrative-it nonetheless deserves readers' wakeful attention. Recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals * Choice Reviews * David Erickson's new book is a must-read for anyone interested in health and social welfare. He takes square aim at the 'know-do' gap that has plagued efforts to improve our social safety net. Drawing upon his decades of experience, the book offers a lucid diagnosis of the problem as well as practical solutions that would advance health and social equity for millions of people. -- Dave A. Chokshi, MD, 43rd Health Commissioner of New York City Whether serving as a family physician for patients experiencing homelessness, as Chicago's public health commissioner deploying policies to improve health, or as Kaiser Permanente's Chief Health Officer implementing upstream interventions to optimize conditions for health, I know just how important reliable and sustainable investments are to the health of our communities. In The Fifth Freedom, Erickson deftly connects the dots between how strategic investment decisions - whether from private industry, the nation's health care system, or from all levels of government-can create the conditions for health and equity we all need to truly thrive. -- Bechara Choucir, Chief Community Health Officer, Kaiser Permanente With empathy, precision, and deeply informed historical analysis, David Erickson issues a clarion call for America to fundamentally rethink how it serves its citizens and enables the next generation to flourish. The Fifth Freedom shows that it is possible-and necessary-to think big, to spend well, and restore hope and economic security to all people and places. An essential read for policymakers and citizens alike. -- Margaret O'Mara, author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America David Erickson's provocative new book leads off with a bold premise: what if, as a society, we decided to truly invest in children's health and well-being, ensuring that no child grows up in poverty? Drawing on a rich mix of history, social theory, evidence-based research, and promising strategies from the field, this book builds a compelling case that this premise is achievable if we're willing to re-think our existing approaches to health and social policy. -- Carolina Reid, Terner Chair, City and Regional Planning, UC Berkeley David Erickson is not the first author to question why, in a nation as wealthy as ours, so many have so little. But The Fifth Freedom's unique marriage of insights from history, health policy, and community development finance show in bold and concrete terms how we can guarantee the right to an "open future" for all children. Through case studies, compelling metaphors, and clear language, Erickson sows the seeds for a revolution in how America constructs its social safety net. -- Alan Berube, Interim Vice President and Director, Brookings Metro