Recently, economic columnist Robert Samuelson wrote a column explaining why so many ordinary Americans perceive their situations as terrible despite what is frequently described as a great economy with record low unemployment.

His argument is that these workers are comparing their situations — lack of raises. a struggle to support their families and to get ahead — with that of a recent golden era. Samuelson maintains that the previous golden era was the result of unrepeatable forces.

This may not seem like good news for investors but their fortunes are not closely tied to workers. The long sluggish recovery that has lasted nearly 10 years is better for investors than the boom/bust of earlier, more robust recoveries with stronger growth but more frequent recessions. Often, what’s good for workers is also good for investors but not always and this may be one of those cases.

What economists at Pimco have termed “The New Normal” may leave workers pining for a bygone era but investors may applaud. Investors have been fretting that the Great Bull Market that began in August, 1982 and carried the Dow Jones Industrial Average to 10,000 in the late 1990s before resuming in March, 2009, may be nearing its end.

Instead, despite trade wars and unraveling of international alliances and general disquiet and upheavel, the long-term picture for investors might remain bright.https://wapo.st/2mClCV4?tid=ss_mail&utm_term=.5a152b7d96be