The declining wealth of the middle class, 1983–2016

Edward N. Wolff

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    This article considers trends in wealth at the middle and top of the distribution, with a particular focus on the period around the Great Recession. It illustrates that leverage rates of middle class families relative to high-wealth families were beneficial to relative rates of return of middle class families for most periods since 1983 but was extremely detrimental during the Great Recession. It also considers the savings rates over time among high-wealth and middle class families, showing that dissaving slowed the recovery in wealth—especially among the middle class. Differential leverage was also a key factor explaining wealth inequality trends.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)461-478
    Number of pages18
    JournalContemporary Economic Policy
    Volume39
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jul 2021

    Keywords

    • household wealth
    • inequality
    • portfolio composition

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Business, Management and Accounting(all)
    • Economics and Econometrics
    • Public Administration

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