Middle Ground: The Shrinking American Middle Class and What It Means for the Future
By Annie Jacobs
The American middle class, once the backbone of the nation's economy, has been shrinking over the past 50 years. In 1971, 61% of U.S. adults were in the middle class, but by 2021, that number dropped to 50%. Meanwhile, more people have either moved into the upper-income or fallen into the lower-income tiers.