The K-Shaped Recovery: Why the Bottom Half Can’t Survive Without Subsidies

The K-shaped recovery has split America into two economies: a subsidized bottom that mathematically cannot survive on wages alone, and an asset-rich upper tier riding liquidity, asset inflation, and AI-driven growth. This deep dive walks through the real math of $40k–$60k households, why subsidies must expand, and what it means for landlords and policy.