The Bonds of Inequality: Debt and the Making of the American City

Indebtedness has become a widespread issue in the United States, but Destin Jenkins' book "The Bonds of Inequality" reveals how it perpetuates racial inequalities, entrenches spatial neglect, elides democratic input, and distributes wealth and power. The book focuses on San Francisco and how the postwar city was shaped by local politicians, banks, credit rating firms, insurance companies, and the national municipal bond market. It uncovers how racial inequalities were intrinsically tied to municipal finance arrangements and how these arrangements determined the distribution of resources in the city.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 14 April 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Indebtedness, a pervasive phenomenon in the United States, shares similarities with inequality, yet its impact on American cities remains largely overlooked. Few have delved into the intricate relationship between municipal debt and the perpetuation of racial privileges, the neglect of specific areas, the exclusion of democratic input, and the unequal distribution of wealth and power. In his groundbreaking book, "The Bonds of Inequality," Destin Jenkins takes readers on a revealing journey into the unseen world of politics and finance that governs American cities. Through a focused examination of San Francisco, Jenkins offers a unique perspective on the postwar city, highlighting the interconnectedness of local politicians, banks, credit rating firms, insurance companies, and the national municipal bond market. By traversing the local and national landscapes, Jenkins uncovers the profound ways in which racial inequalities in San Francisco were intricately linked to municipal finance arrangements, ultimately shaping the distribution of resources within the city. By daringly rewriting the history of modern American cities, Jenkins unveils the hidden threads that connect debt, power, race, and inequity, challenging prevailing narratives and illuminating the complex dynamics that shape our urban landscapes.

In this passionate and meticulously researched book, Destin Jenkins delves into the intricate web of politics and finance that governs American cities, shedding light on the often overlooked relationship between municipal debt and the perpetuation of racial privileges, the neglect of specific areas, the exclusion of democratic input, and the unequal distribution of wealth and power. Through a focused examination of San Francisco, Jenkins offers a unique perspective on the postwar city, highlighting the interconnectedness of local politicians, banks, credit rating firms, insurance companies, and the national municipal bond market. By traversing the local and national landscapes, Jenkins uncovers the profound ways in which racial inequalities in San Francisco were intricately linked to municipal finance arrangements, ultimately shaping the distribution of resources within the city. By daringly rewriting the history of modern American cities, Jenkins unveils the hidden threads that connect debt, power, race, and inequity, challenging prevailing narratives and illuminating the complex dynamics that shape our urban landscapes.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226819983