Who Are the "Middle Class"?

Cashell, Brian W.

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Middle class;    Social classes;    Social groups;    Income distribution;    Economic policy;   

RP-ID  :  RS22627
RP-ID  :  RS22627_2008Oct22

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

There is no consensus definition of "middle class," neither is there an official government definition. What constitutes the middle class is relative, subjective, and not easily defined. The mid-point in the distribution is the median, and in 2007 the median household income was $50,233. How far above and below that amount the middle stretches remains an open question. This report explores the various definitions of the middle class and what salary ranges those definitions encompass, as well as related statistics and surveys that support this information.