According to a report from the Pew Research Center, slightly more than half of the U. Both poorer and richer income classes have increased in size in recent decades. Since , the number of the lowest-income earners, who make less than two-thirds of the U. One way is simply to look at the range of incomes considered middle class.
The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U. Census Bureau. Pew Research Center. Accessed Oct. Economic Policy Institute. Urban Institute. The Economist. The Atlantic. The New Yorker. The Guardian. Wealth Management. Tax Laws. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Investopedia.
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I Accept Show Purposes. Your Money. Personal Finance. Your Practice. Popular Courses. Part Of. Elements of Inequality. Role of the Financial System. Legal Protections. Measuring Inequality. Theories Explaining Inequality. Models to Reduce Inequalilty. Economics Behavioral Economics.
Table of Contents Expand. What Does the Data Say? Lowest and Highest Bracket Growth. Demographic Changes. Who Is Losing Ground? The Racial Wealth Gap. What Class Am I In? Location Matters. Where Do You Stand? Class Is Relative. A Complicated Question. Is the Middle Class Shrinking? Which Income Classes Are Growing? Key Takeaways The middle class constitutes a slim majority of the U.
The middle class is shrinking due to an increase in population at the extreme bottom and top of the economic spectrum. How Many Make More? Article Sources. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate.
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To Zaber, it means if your car breaks down, you have the funds to get it fixed. It means you can choose between different apartments or homes rather than choosing the cheapest possible option. It means that you get to make choices about what you want to eat for dinner, and having the funds to dine out if you feel like it. They're criteria that can't be measured as precisely as an income threshold, but reveal whether you feel a sense of economic safety and security in your daily life.
Facebook Twitter Email. The answer may depend on more than just your income. Show Caption. Hide Caption. Here's the wealth gap, explained. Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter. Don't miss: This mistake could drop your credit score by as much as 50 points—here's how to avoid it.
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