大声思考｜M型社会来临：全球中产阶层的收缩与挑战

Core Viewpoint - The concept of the "American middle-class slaughter line" has gained attention but is now cooling down as discussions reveal that many are projecting their own fears onto the situation of others [1][2][3]. Group 1: Economic Context - The term "slaughter line" originates from analyst Michael Green, who concluded that a household income of over $140,000 is necessary for a decent living in the U.S. [4][6]. - The median household income in the U.S. is $80,600, with an average household asset value of $1.06 million, and a median asset value of $190,000 when excluding the wealthiest households [6]. - Major expenses such as housing, education, healthcare, and transportation consume over half of the income for middle-class families [6][7]. Group 2: Social Safety Nets - The U.S. provides various safety nets, including unemployment benefits for up to 26 months, which help mitigate the risks of job loss [8][10]. - The current unemployment rate stands at 4.6%, with only 0.2% of the population classified as homeless, primarily consisting of individuals with severe issues rather than middle-class families [9][10]. Group 3: Global Trends - The middle class is shrinking globally, with the U.S. seeing a rise in low-income individuals from 27% to 30% and high-income individuals from 11% to 19% over the past fifty years, indicating a decline in the middle class [21][24]. - Similar trends are observed in Europe, where the percentage of the middle class in Germany has decreased from 74% to 67% [22]. - Economic shifts due to globalization have led to the migration of manufacturing jobs to lower-cost regions, resulting in job losses for the middle class while new industries require fewer workers [23][24]. Group 4: Welfare Systems - The U.S. welfare system is based on individual responsibility, contrasting with Europe's more comprehensive welfare state that aims to reduce income inequality through high taxation and extensive social services [12][14]. - The challenges faced by both the U.S. and European welfare systems highlight the need for a reevaluation of social safety nets to protect the middle class from economic volatility [24][25].