The Middle Classes in Latin America
by
Prof. Dr. Stefan Jost
Media Hype and Detailed Analysis
The World Bank estimates that the Latin American middle class has grown to 152 million people between 2003 and 2009. However, a political or societal debate on the sustainability of this ongoing trend appears to be insufficient. What remains is an ambivalent feeling. Poverty is decreasing, growth is being praised, whereas risks and negative side effects are neglected. Therefore, a critical analysis of the consequences of the growth of the middle classes in Latin America is necessary.
