【环球时报报道 记者 王雯雯 徐嘉彤】编者的话：近日，美国经济学家、马萨诸塞大学经济学荣誉退休 教授理查德·沃尔夫一段爆火的网络演讲视频引发中美舆论热议。视频中，他对比分析了中美火车在速 度、外观及配置上的差异，并深入探讨了中美的经济思维差异。沃尔夫通过对比中美两国经济制度，强 调差异背后的根源在于中国特色社会主义市场经济的独特性和优越性，即"独特的制度优势"。在接受 《环球时报》记者专访时，沃尔夫进一步阐释了其观点背后的逻辑，以及他对"美国何以走向衰落"的看 法。 面对美国贸易威胁，中国更愿意用自己的节奏反击，不会消极应对 环球时报： 您能跟我们介绍一下那段爆火视频的情况吗？ 理查德 · 沃尔夫： 作为一名经济学家，我曾在几所美国大学里担任经济学教授。起初，我的学生们基于 自身阅读、思考以及同他人的交流，向我提出一些有关中国的问题。我很快意识到，我在美国所接受的 教育几乎未曾传授我任何关于中国的知识。为此，我撰写了一篇有关新中国早期经济的论文，聚焦人民 公社运动。自那以后，我对中国共产主义及其运作模式产生了浓厚兴趣。 过去20年间，随着中国经济的腾飞，我开始真正关注中国，我深感有必要深入了解中国的发展历程。 ...

Core Viewpoint - The discussion highlights the increasing wealth inequality in the U.S., the inefficiency of government, and the stagnation of technological progress, suggesting that these issues are interconnected and may lead to significant societal consequences [2][3][6]. Summary by Sections Wealth Inequality - The disparity between the wealth of the top 1% and the bottom 99% has been growing at an unprecedented rate, potentially surpassing levels seen in the early 20th century [2][3]. - The right-wing has largely ignored this issue, either denying its existence or deeming it unimportant, which is seen as a significant blind spot [2][3]. Government Inefficiency - Government efficiency has deteriorated, with rising expenditures failing to yield proportional improvements in governance [3][4]. - Examples include the prolonged construction times for infrastructure projects compared to historical benchmarks, indicating a decline in operational effectiveness [3][4]. Technological Stagnation - There is a concern that technological progress has slowed since the late 1960s, with significant innovations becoming rare outside of specific sectors like computing and finance [6][7]. - The stagnation in technological advancement is linked to broader economic growth issues, leading to political cynicism and a zero-sum perception of economic competition [7][10]. Globalization's Impact - Globalization has created a "winner-takes-all" environment, adversely affecting the middle class and white-collar workers, particularly through labor arbitrage with countries like China [12][20]. - The benefits of globalization have not been evenly distributed, leading to increased inequality and social unrest [12][20]. Education and Innovation - The education system is criticized for perpetuating a bubble, with many students accumulating debt without securing corresponding employment opportunities [27][29]. - There is a call for a reevaluation of educational investments and a shift towards recognizing non-college career paths as viable options [27][29]. Future Considerations - The discussion raises philosophical questions about the role of government in planning for the future, particularly in the context of technological innovation and economic policy [15][17]. - The potential for long-term societal issues stemming from demographic changes and technological stagnation is emphasized, suggesting a need for proactive policy adjustments [23][24].