The Illusion of Middle Class: Why People Identify as Rich, Even When They're Not
1 month, 4 weeks ago

The Illusion of Middle Class: Why People Identify as Rich, Even When They're Not

Live Mint  

The article explores why a significant number of people in India identify as middle-class, despite the varying income levels and statistical readings. One reason is that people are not aware of the country's big picture and may underestimate their position based on their income. Additionally, the concept of being rich is not universally defined, leading to discrepancies in self-identification. The article suggests that factors such as education, career opportunities, and social aspirations play a role in shaping people's sense of belonging and social standing.

Psychology Economics Social Sciences Sociology  demographic  delusion  rich  millennial  identify  needs  income  class  survey  indias  lakh  monthly  middleclass

History of this topic

Middle class isn’t just an economic status; it’s a mindset: Sunil Raoh
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Middle class isn’t just an economic status; it’s a mindset: Sunil Raoh

New Indian Express  

Sunil Raoh has always been known for creating authentic connection with the middle class through several characters. Through this role, he not only presents another slice of life of the middle class on screen but also highlights the challenges, dignity, and perseverance of people living this hard life. As he steps into Sathish’s shoes as a food delivery boy, Sunil …

Kamala Harris claims to speak for the middle class — but what does that even mean?
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Kamala Harris claims to speak for the middle class — but what does that even mean?

Salon  

Since replacing her boss atop the 2024 Democratic ticket, Kamala Harris has cast herself as an agent of generational change who would open "a new way forward" for the American people. In Joe Biden's acceptance speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, he uttered the phrase "middle class" just once. Harris has continued to use that refrain on the campaign …

Anant Ambani’s glitzy wedding highlights India’s ‘missing middle class’
5 months ago

Anant Ambani’s glitzy wedding highlights India’s ‘missing middle class’

Al Jazeera  

India’s middle class is much poorer than China’s after decades of strong growth despite starting at a similar base. Compared with fellow rising economy China, India’s consumers have far less spending power, with the country’s middle class heavily concentrated at the lower end of the income spectrum, according to a report released by Oxford Economics in May. “One of the …

"Middle class" is an outdated misnomer: It's now "a minimum standard of living"
5 months, 4 weeks ago

"Middle class" is an outdated misnomer: It's now "a minimum standard of living"

Salon  

It is very expensive to be poor in America. The Census Bureau defines “poverty” solely as a measure of income – you’re “poor” if your household’s income falls below a certain level for any given year. Gallup just put out a survey finding that 54 percent of Americans identify as “middle class,” including 15 percent who say they are “upper …

India’s middle class and the ‘Modi factor’
6 months, 3 weeks ago

India’s middle class and the ‘Modi factor’

The Hindu  

Narendra Modi’s appeal to the middle class is a case study in political communication, as his style of populism does not neatly fit any typical framework long studied by academics. The encoder of the political message — in this case Mr. Modi and the BJP — took advantage of the middle class’s willingness to ignore the obvious consequences of its …

What is 'Middle' About the 'Middle Class'?
6 months, 3 weeks ago

What is 'Middle' About the 'Middle Class'?

The Quint  

The middle class also lives distinctly healthier lives than the poor. In Duflo-Banerjee’s study, the so-called categorised ‘middle class’ population goes to the doctor more often and spends more per visit. They also argue: “Nothing seems more middle class than the fact of having a steady well-paying job. If the middle class matters for growth, it is probably not because …

‘Middle class’ has lost all meaning: we need new ways to talk about society
1 year, 1 month ago

‘Middle class’ has lost all meaning: we need new ways to talk about society

The Independent  

With a general election imminent, a difficult truth for politicians is that the cost of living crisis is causing real hardship to what we refer to as the “middle class”. Worse than that, it’s being employed deliberately to stoke the anxieties of the genuine middle class – who might be defaulting on a mortgage payment this winter, or cancelling a …

India’s Class Structure a ‘McMaharaja’: Sociology of the ‘Sandwiched Middle Class’ - News18
1 year, 9 months ago

India’s Class Structure a ‘McMaharaja’: Sociology of the ‘Sandwiched Middle Class’ - News18

News 18  

For something to be judged as ‘upper’ or ‘lower’, something must inevitably be the ‘middle’, to serve as a baseline for comparison. Our understanding of ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ as social spaces at the two very ends, facilitates a conceptual need for an intermediary middle class, a location desirable to most. The middle class is characterised by white-collar occupations, and this …

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