The Middle-Class Squeeze 2008: A Drum Major Institute for Public Policy Overview

Being middle class used to mean having a reliable job with fair pay; access to health care; a safe and stable home; the opportunity to provide a good education for one’s children, including a college education; time off work for vacations and major life events; and the security of looking forward to a dignified retirement. But today this standard of living is increasingly precarious. The existing middle class is squeezed and many of those striving to attain the middle-class standard find it persistently out of reach. With this overview, DMI brings together the latest data to shed light on this troubling state of affairs.