Polarisation of America that brought Trump to power set to become far more severe

Washington, DC

A CORE problem in the United States today - reflected in Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election earlier this month - is that too many Americans feel helpless and insecure in the face of the job polarisation that has resulted from globalisation and new technology. While highly educated people at the top of the income distribution are doing better than ever, people with only a high school education face declining incomes, living standards, and prospects for themselves and their children. The middle class is being torn apart.

Mr Trump won largely because he persuaded voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and elsewhere that his policies will yield better outcomes in communities where manufacturing is declining. In fact, his administration, backed by Republican majorities in both houses of the US Congress, will likely only make things worse for hard-pressed Americans.