WINNERS

1. The middle and lower classes will be the recipients of tax reductions and subsidies.

2. Mass retailers such as Wal-Mart are likely to benefit from the redistribution of income.

3. Companies that supply equipment associated with research and development efforts will be helped by higher research and development spending.

4. Beneficiaries of infrastructure spending will include cement producers, engineering firms and producers of heavy equipment.

5. Solar, wind, biomass and other alternative energy producers and those who supply them will be helped by new energy and environmental policies and regulation.

LOSERS

1. Upper-middle and higher income groups will suffer from relentlessly increasing tax rates at state and federal level.

2. Those who cater to higher income groups will suffer as a consequence, including but not limited to high-end retailers and luxury goods producers.

3. Credit-card companies, insurance firms, hedge funds, banks and brokers will be negatively affected by a massive increase in regulation.

4. Large pharmaceuticals companies and health insurance companies will see pricing pressures increase as new healthcare programmes are introduced and efforts are made to rein in escalating medical costs.

5. Carbon-based energy companies will experience more regulation and higher taxation.