The Fall of the Middle Class? Stability and Vulnerability in the Middle Segment of Society

The WRR publication The Fall of the Middle Class? Stability and Vulnerability in the Middle Segment of Society examines the changes that have occured in the middle segment of society since the 1970's.

Enlarge image Cover (small) The Fall of the Middle Class
Image: ©WRR

Four aspects and four policy recommendations

The publication analyses the development of four aspects:

  • middle incomes
  • intermediate skills and
  • intermediate occupations
  • attitudes towards politics and society.

Because 'the' Dutch middle class is far too heterogeneous the report refers to the middle segment of society or to the middle groups.

The most important policy recommendations are:

  • Promote greater certainty in the labour market
  • Invest in education and training
  • Preserve the redistributive effect of the welfare state
  • Support for families.