A middle-class standard of living requires that families have adequate financial security to meet current obligations, invest in the future, and access opportunities. The most recent findings from the Middle Class Security Index show that between 2000 and 2006--even before the most recent economic downturn--the economic well-being of middle-class families slipped noticeably.
Between 2000 and 2006 an estimated 4 million middle-class families lost their financial security, bringing the total number of middle-income families on shaky ground to 23 million.
These worrisome changes in the overall financial health of the middle class were driven by a decline in assets, rising housing costs, and a growing lack of health insurance.
From Middle to Shaky Ground: The Economic Decline of America's Middle Class
Contributing Organization(s): Demos: A Network for Ideas and Action
Author(s)/Creator(s): Tamara Draut; Jennifer Wheary; Thomas M. Shapiro; Tatjana Meschede
Publishing Date: 2008-11-19
Issue Areas: General; Housing and Homelessness; Health and Medicine
Ownership/Rights Info: Copyright 2008 Demos
File info: 12 pages; 448.3 KB file size
Access Note: This research is also available to order in hard-copy.
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Access Note: This research is also available to order in hard-copy.
Intended Audience: General Public; Legislators/Legislative Aids; Policy Professionals; Researchers
Type/Format: FactSheet; Whitepaper
Language code: English
Type/Format: FactSheet; Whitepaper
Language code: English
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