If the economy is so good, why doesn't it feel like it?

@bloombergopinion

328.4K followers · usually 3.9K views a post

Views

52.9K

Likes

3.6K

Comments

121

Shares

153

SoundTikTok sound · original sound - bloombergopinion

Why it worked

The video addresses a widely felt, relatable frustration with a clear, data-backed explanation, making complex economic theory accessible and validating the viewer's personal experience.

Summary

The video explains the disconnect between positive economic indicators like the stock market and the public's negative perception of the economy. It highlights the productivity-pay gap as a key factor, noting that while productivity has soared since 1980, worker compensation has remained stagnant.

Structure

1Introduction of the economic paradox
2Presentation of positive economic data
3Introduction of the productivity-pay gap concept
4Visual evidence of the divergence since 1980
5Contextualizing with other stressors like inflation and political division

On-screen text

B Opinion If the economy is so good why doesn't it feel like it? S&P 500 Index Bloomberg Bloomberg US Financial Conditions Index Productivity growth Hourly compensation growth Note: Data indexed as 1948=100 (wages and benefits) of production/nonsupervisory workers in the private sector and net productivity. "Net productivity" is the growth of output of goods and services less depreciation per hour worked. Source: Economic Policy Institute Nir Kaissar explained it like this: The Economy's Booming, Why Doesn't It Feel Like It? 10K views Bloomberg Opinion

Original caption

This factor explains a lot about why the #economy doesn’t feel as good as everyone says it is. #inflation #wagegap #data #stockmarket

More from @bloombergopinion

More breakout videos from this creator.

Transcript

If the economy is so good, why doesn't it feel like it? The stock market is at record highs. Financial conditions are loose and easy, meaning there's no problem getting money if you need it. I read every day how the economy is strong. So what's actually going on? There's a big glaring factor here you need to know about: the productivity-pay gap. Nir Kaissar explained it like this: The more productive the economy gets, the more businesses are able to produce more with the same or fewer resources. That, in turn, makes the businesses more money. And in a healthy economy, those gains are shared by business owners as well as the workers who work for them. The more valuable your business becomes, the more your workers get paid, right? That happened really well from 1948 to 1980. But as you can see here, from 1980 to today, the productivity has been soaring while compensation has barely budged. That's economic inequality more than 50 years in the making. Add inflation, record-high housing costs, a war that's disrupting gas prices, a country more divided politically than ever, and being constantly plugged into the bad news all around us. That's not gonna feel great.