The middle class is a part of any society that occupies an intermediate position between the lower and upper classes. This layer of society has a number of very important social functions.
The concept of "middle layers" or "middle class" was introduced by Aristotle. He was the first to express the idea still popular among many scientists that the size of this middle layer is directly proportional to the stability of society.
Modern ideas about the middle class
This concept became widespread at the beginning of the 20th century, since it was during this period that there was a sharp numerical increase in this layer. At the beginning of the 20th century, independent entrepreneurs and small proprietors were classified as middle classes or the middle class. As society developed in many countries, there was a significant increase in the standard of living of highly skilled workers who gradually joined the ranks of the middle class. In developed countries, the middle class traditionally includes not only lawyers, top managers, scientists, accountants, but also doctors, teachers, sales agents, and so on.
Scientists constantly argue about the criteria for distinguishing this class. Most often, the main objective criteria include the level of income, education, ownership of property (material and intellectual), consumption standards and the ability to highly skilled work. In addition to these fairly clear criteria, a large role is assigned to a person’s subjective perception of his own position, that is, in order to belong to the middle class, a person must identify himself as a representative of the social middle.
