What are some quotes about the economy in the novel Water for Elephants?

Sara Gruen explores how the Great Depression not only affected American citizens, but also the economy in Water for Elephants.
In chapter 2, Jacob Jankowski's plans for the future come to a tragic end after his parents' untimely deaths. Set to join his father's veterinary practice after graduating from Cornell University, Jacob discovers it's no longer a viable option after visiting the family lawyer. During the estate reading, he learns that his parents used their life savings to finance his Ivy League education, leaving him with no inheritance. After the Stock Market Crash of 1929, the Jankowski family had no way to supplement their meager income. Jacob also discovers that his parents fell behind on their mortgage because his father accepted beans and eggs as a form of payment so animals would not suffer. Shocked by his change in financial circumstances, Jacob contemplates the lawyer:

I stare at Edmund Hyde, in his expensive suit, behind his expensive desk, in front of his leather-bound books. Behind him, the sun streaks through lead-paned windows. I am filled with sudden loathing—I'll bet he's never taken payment in the form of beans and eggs in his life.

This passage highlights the impact the Great Depression had on the country. Jacob is the all-American boy, set to graduate from a prestigious college, and then he becomes a homeless man, searching for work. Edmund is perceived to be pretentious because he flaunts his wealth. Jacob struggles with the situation:

What am I supposed to do? I ask slowly.
I don't know, son. I wish I did. The country's fallen on hard times, and that's a fact. He leans back in his chair, his fingers still steepled. He cocks his head, as though an idea has just occurred to him. I suppose you could go west, he muses.

Edmund Hyde's nonchalant and superficial responses are reflective of the upper class during this period. While he may have lost some money after the stock market crash, he is able to maintain most of his wealth, unlike Jacob, who is now penniless. He is unsympathetic toward Jacob's problem and almost seems to be enjoying it.
In chapter 6, Uncle Al, owner of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, is portrayed as a businessman consumed with greed. Jacob refers to him as a vulture because he likes to take advantage of other people's misfortunes.

When the Crash came, larger circuses started going down and Uncle Al could hardly believe his luck. It started with the Gentry Brothers and Buck Jones in 1929. The next year saw the end of the Cole Brothers, the Christy Brothers, and the mighty John Robinson. And every time a show closed, there was Uncle Al, sopping up the remains: a few train cars, a handful of stranded performers, a tiger, or a camel. He had scouts everywhere—the moment a larger circus showed signs of trouble, Uncle Al would get a telegram and race to the scene.

Wealthy men in the 1930s liked to capitalize on their competitors' downfalls. Many tried to turn their business into a monopoly so they could control the prices. Uncle Al is able to acquire his competitors' castoffs for free or at a bargain price. He can regulate his employees' pay or fire anyone. The workers are at the mercy of the cruel businessman and have no recourse.
In chapter 11, Jacob notes how the depression has impacted many in Chicago. Walking back to the lot where the traveling circus is staying, he notes how many businesses are closed or how a grocery store is willing to barter with those who have no money. He observes,

Less than a mile from the lot, I pass a hobo jungle. There’s a fire in the center and people stretched out around it. Some are awake, sitting forward and staring into the fire. Some are lying back on folded clothes. I’m close enough to see their faces and to register that most of them are young—younger than me.

Millions of unemployed men, women, and children rode the rails across the United States seeking employment. Hobo jungles were places where a person could eat and rest before moving on to a new location. Jacob is unaffected by what he witnesses and goes about his night as if nothing is out of the ordinary.
The Great Depression in the 1930s impacted American citizens on various levels. Many people went from riches to rags, while others were able to maintain financial security. While some were willing to help those in need, others turned a blind eye.