Has the economy gone C-shaped?

Economists and officials are debating the best letter to describe the current state of the U.S. economy, moving from the 'K-shaped' inequality model to a more optimistic 'C-shaped' model. The article questions the utility of using simple letters to explain complex economic realities.
Why it matters
It illustrates how political rhetoric and economic shorthand can simplify or obscure the nuanced financial realities of different social classes.
NPR Planet Money LISTEN & FOLLOW NPR App Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music iHeart Radio RSS link Sign up for the [TITLE] Newsletter Get perks with [Podcast Title]+ Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.
Nuthawut Somsuk / Getty Images Today's economy is brought to you by… the letter K! Or is it C? Or … well, it depends on who you talk to about how the rich and poor are doing these days.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in