What's becoming clear is that this divide is no longer confined to the labor market. It's now embedded in its foundation: education. When access to advanced degrees depends not on ability or workforce demand, but on whether a household can absorb six figures of upfront cost, stratification accelerates. The upper branch compounds advantage through credentialed mobility. The lower branch absorbs risk, debt, and stalled progression.
According to the detailed assessment from the nonpartisan budget watchdog, OBBBA will deliver a significant boost to economic output in the near term, with estimates showing growth rates could climb by nearly 1% in 2026, driven by increased demand and one-time incentives for labor and investment. However, the organization stresses this burst of activity is fleeting and warns projected long-term growth will stagnate as additional borrowing burdens the economy.
