两个美国：“K型经济”的成因与出路

Economic Overview - Since mid-2025, the U.S. economy has exhibited characteristics of "jobless growth" and a "K-shaped economy," with non-farm employment numbers declining to an average of 18,000 per month from June to August, significantly below the historical average of 109,000 during non-recession periods[1][15] - The GDP growth rate remains robust, supported by AI capital expenditures, despite the lack of job growth[1][21] K-shaped Economy Characteristics - The K-shaped economy is marked by a divergence in consumption, employment, wages, and wealth, where high-income households experience significantly higher consumption growth compared to low-income households[1][26] - For instance, the spending growth difference in air travel and furniture between high and low-income families reached 10.5 and 10.2 percentage points, respectively, as of November 1[1][27] Causes of K-shaped Economy - The "jobless growth" phenomenon is attributed to structural imbalances in the economy, including the late-cycle economic phase, monetary easing, and the impacts of Trump's policies on immigration and tariffs[2][45] - Since the 1980s, the growth of real labor income has lagged behind productivity growth, indicating a long-term trend of increasing income and wealth inequality[2][66] Labor Market Dynamics - The labor market has transitioned from a tight supply to a surplus, with the Labor Market Conditions Index (LMCI) dropping from a peak of 1.46 in January 2022 to 0.25 by August 2025, indicating a loosening labor market[2][51] - The unemployment rate for marginalized groups, such as low-education and minority populations, has risen significantly, while the unemployment rate for white individuals remains low[2][46] Future Economic Outlook - In 2026, the U.S. economy is expected to shift from "jobless growth" to "low employment growth," but the K-shaped characteristics may persist due to a weak labor market balance[3][81] - The equilibrium employment number has decreased to 30,000-80,000 jobs per month, suggesting that maintaining a low unemployment rate will not necessarily lead to a return to high employment growth[3][83]