Middle Class Contraction. The growing gap between rich and poor, especially in economies of the West, is creating uncertainty about the future of the middle class.

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The middle class was initially a political product of the urban settings of European societies. A process started by questioning the power of the 'enlightened' along with divine monarchism and feudal structures. This process took centuries, considering that the initial buzz of the 13th century occurred in England with the introduction of the Magna Carta. Nowdays, on socio-economic terms, middle class consists of people between the working and upper class. To be more accurate, the term middle class implies those people who typically have had education, own a family house, and hold a professional post.

   

   The growing gap between rich and poor, especially in economies of the West, is creating uncertainty about the future of the middle class. On the other hand, the increasing wealth in developing countries, will create a new, less experienced middle class. The middle class may be reduced in a way a lot different from ways in the past. In recent years there is too much talking for the reduction of the middle class, meaning its economic descent.

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   While the middle class in Europe (statistically) actually sinks into decline, another part of it, smaller but very important, improves its position dramatically. Those two parts get a completely different dynamic so they get different characteristics as well and can no more coexist. Applying simple arithmetic calculations, is figured out that the middle class has reached its limits of expansion. In other words, it has limited the vast reservoir of farmers and workers from where members could be absorbed.

    The wave of inflation sweeping the globe mixes with Europe’s long-stagnant wages. Families once enjoyed Europe’s vaunted ...

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