Middle Class Membership (MCM) Model: Integrating Complimentary Measurements Lead to Sustainable Solutions
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Authors
Diane Fulton
Thomas Garsombke
Richard A. Fulton
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Journal Article, Academic Journal
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Abstract
Creating a sustainable and robust middle class is an imperative goal for global societies today. What are the defining factors which contribute to a sustainable middle class where its members are able to gain a balance between purely numerical measures such as purchasing goods beyond the basics and psychological measures of being middle class, such as self-determination to make a real contribution to the society as a whole? This research focuses on a model which gives an integrative schema to the contributing factors of middle class membership (MCM Model), both as defined by quantitative and qualitative measured parameters. The mega factors suggested are divided into five general categories of: 1) economic; 2) political/legal; 3) demographic; 4) family circumstances; and 5) socio-cultural. The categories are broken into more specific complimentary measures such as wage levels, education, parent’s socio-economic status (SES), an aspiration to exceed parents, sense of security and tax laws. Future strategic recommendations are made for sustaining the middle class, which stem from the MCM Model.