# social safety net

Beyond the ‘Kill Line’: Why China’s Institutions Cushion Shocks That Rout U.S. Middle‑Class Households

Chinese commentators have seized on a viral US‑based concept called the “kill line” to illustrate how high fixed costs and financialisation can quickly push American households into destitution. By contrast, China’s mix of rural land rights, large‑scale poverty alleviation, public subsidies and protective financial policies creates institutional buffers that reduce the likelihood of sudden social collapse.