The authors of "Up to Our Eyeballs: How Shady Lenders and Failed Economic Policies are Drowning Americans in Debt" blame the rising costs of health care, higher education and housing for making "debt the only mechanism available to many Americans for coping with a job loss or a medical emergency or even everyday needs like car repairs and groceries."
The authors also criticize creditors for their hefty fees and policies "that make slipups more likely," and take the mortgage industry to task for the origination of loans that enrich lenders and send borrowers to the poor house.
