For average American families, the United States economy is like a football team that cannot move the ball, and has not been able to for 30 years.

That is why frustrated economists in both parties are scrambling for a new playbook. Increasingly, they are looking away from grinding runs up the middle toward more freewheeling, long-yardage plays.

Among Democrats, that means greater government spending on education, infrastructure and even direct job creation. Among Republicans, it means far-reaching shifts in taxation and regulation. Those debates will help shape economic policy for the rest of President Obama’s term and during the 2016 campaign.

The economy has finally emerged from the financial crisis and Great Recession of 2007-9. Employers added 314,000 jobs in November, and third-quarter output grew at a strong 5 percent annual rate with no signs of resurgent inflation.