Middle Class

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Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Middle Class'

Individuals who fall between the working class and the upper class within a societal hierarchy. In Western cultures, persons in the middle class tend to have a higher proportion of college degrees than those in the working class, have more income available for consumption and may own property. Those in the middle class often are employed as professionals, managers and civil servants.

Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Middle Class'

The word "middle" may be misleading in that it suggests that those in the middle class have earnings within the middle of the population's income distribution, which may not be the case.

Karl Marx referred to the middle class as part of the bourgeoisie when he described capitalism. The term itself has shifted in meaning over time, having once referred to persons who had the means to rival nobles.

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'Middle Class'

  • Are We Losing The Middle Class?

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/06/middleclass.asp
    Are We Losing The Middle Class? ... TUTORIAL: Economics Basics In recent years, however,
    the decline of the middle class has been the stuff of headline news. ...

  • 6 Signs That You've Made It To Middle Class

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/10/middle-class.asp
    If you can check off each of these points, you are likely a member of the
    middle class. ... 6 Signs That You've Made It To Middle Class. ...

  • 2 Plays On China's New Luxury Class

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2009/2-Plays-On-Chinas-New-Luxury-Class-COH-LUX0722.aspx
    ... As the country prospers, the newly emerging and growing middle class will hopefully
    adopt a consumer culture that is similar to those of other modern nations. ...

  • Don't Forget Latin America's Consumer Story

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Dont-Forget-Latin-Americas-Consumer-Story-RXI-BRAQ-CBD-SAB-MELI-GFA-HXM1130.aspx
    ... While the new wave of consumerism in China and emerging Asia is "old news," the
    middle class shopping story in Latin America is often ignored. ...

  • The Time Is Right To Bet On The Emerging Consumer

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/The-Time-Is-Right-To-Bet-On-The-Emerging-Consumer-RXI-KXI-ECON-WHR-ELUXY-VGEM0721.aspx
    ... The New Middle Class The consumerism boom currently underway in the emerging markets
    can be compared to America's post-WWII period of the 50s and 60s. ...

  • Financial Capitalism Opens Doors To Personal Fortune

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/financial-capitalism.asp
    ... Consequently, these investments were sold to the growing middle class in
    the hope of tapping additional sources of financing. The ...

  • NAFTA's Winners And Losers

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/north-american-free-trade-agreement.asp
    ... Corporate investment in maquiladoras was expected to produce a Mexican middle
    class that would become a large market for US goods. ...

  • Bargains In Brazil

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Bargains-In-Brazil-EEB-BRAQ-EWZ-PBR-VALE-ARCO-MCD-UGP-GOL-TAM0421.aspx
    The right combination of natural resources, growing middle class and
    strong government makes Brazil a top long-term buy. ...

  • Going Global For Consumer Stocks

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/Going-Global-For-Consumer-Stocks-RXI-KXI-CHIQ-XLI-ROB0809.aspx
    ... Developing and Emerging Markets to the Rescue The newly-minted middle class in emerging
    nations is driving spending on beer, electronic goods and automobiles. ...

  • How An Allowance Helps Kids Get Money-Smart

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/kids_allowance.asp
    ... In many cases, the middle class raise the next generation of middle class people,
    the poor raise the poor and the wealthy raise the wealthy. ...

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