European middle class developments | Knowledge for policy

Foresight

The European middle class has been eroding in the past decade, due to the economic turmoil as well changing work conditions and further increases of unemployment, especially among young people. | Related Megatrends: Work; Geopower; Inequalities
The share of the European and American middle classes will decrease from 50% in 2016 to just 22% of world's total, by 2030. | Related Megatrends: Geopower; Demography
A sort of "vicious circle" has developed: the crisis has weakened the middle class, which in turn reduced aggregate demand, thereby deepening and prolonging downturn.
| Related Megatrends: Work; Geopower; Inequalities
In Germany, the income share of the middle-income group has fallen from 68% in 1991 to 59% by 2013. | Related Megatrends: Work; Geopower; Inequalities

Originally Published	27 Sep 2018
Knowledge service \| Metadata	Foresight \| The Megatrends Hub \| Growing consumerism
Digital Europa Thesaurus (DET)	consumer behaviour distribution of income unemployment working conditions youth unemployment labour market population statistics social statistics