Eurofound Talks: Is Europe’s middle class disappearing?

After years of being sidelined in the policy debate while European labour markets recovered after the Great Recession, inequality is firmly back on the agenda following the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing cost-of-living crisis. Chief among the concerns is perceptions of a shrinking middle class.

In a new episode of Eurofound Talks Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Research Manager Carlos Vacas about the situation of the middle class in Europe. Together, they explore a more nuanced picture to the one that is commonly expressed; different patterns are emerging across European regions, for instance between the Member States that joined the EU after 2004 and older Member States.

They look at developments over the past two decades, the significance of income adequacy and equality in the development of a robust middle class in Europe, the influence of the welfare state, as well as the understated role of the family.

The discussion comes on the back of the publication of new research from Eurofound which provides a comprehensive picture of income disparities within and between the EU Member States from 2006 to 2021, covering a wide range of interrelated indicators capturing income inequality, the middle class, the degree of income polarisation and the role of public policies in these trends.

Listen to the episode for free on our dedicated page, or wherever you get your podcasts.