What will historians see as the defining issue of our time? 

In this talk, Dalberg Partner Joe Dougherty explores the idea of the “K-shaped economy,” a growing divide in economic opportunity between different groups of people and places. 

While some workers and regions are thriving, many others face wage stagnation, fewer pathways to quality employment, and increasing social and economic isolation. This divergence is shaped by complex forces including technology, education systems, labor policy, trade, and culture. 

Joe argues that because these forces play out differently in each place, solutions must be locally grounded and system-wide. That means collaboration across sectors, bringing together employers, workers, educators, community organizations, government, and philanthropy to design pathways to good jobs. 

The video also highlights emerging examples from California where cross-sector partnerships are working to address these challenges through regional economic planning and workforce initiatives.