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Polarization and the Middle Class in Uruguay

Author

Listed:
  • Fernando Borraz
  • Nicolás González
  • Máximo Rossi

Abstract

Some approaches to measuring the middle class are based on an arbitrary definition such as income quartiles or the poverty line. Foster and Wolfson have recently developed a methodology without arbitrariness. We apply this tool and a complementary method–the relative distribution approach–to analyze the evolution of the middle class and polarization in Uruguay during the 1994-2004 and 2004-2010 periods. During the first period, characterized by increasing income inequality, the middle class declines and income polarization increases. In the second period, which includes the recovery from the 2002 downturn, we find that the middle class increases and polarization decreases.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Borraz & Nicolás González & Máximo Rossi, 2013. "Polarization and the Middle Class in Uruguay," Latin American Journal of Economics-formerly Cuadernos de Economía, Instituto de Economía. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile., vol. 50(2), pages 289-326, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:ioe:cuadec:v:50:y:2013:i:2:p:289-326
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    Cited by:

    1. Michele Fabiani, 2023. "Unraveling the Roots of Income Polarization in Europe: A Divided Continent," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, August.
    2. F. Clementi & A. L. Dabalen & V. Molini & F. Schettino, 2017. "When the Centre Cannot Hold: Patterns of Polarization in Nigeria," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 63(4), pages 608-632, December.
    3. Fabio Clementi & Vasco Molini & Francesco Schettino & Haider A. Khan & Michele Fabiani, 2023. "Polarization and its discontents: Morocco before and after the Arab Spring," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 21(1), pages 105-129, March.
    4. Clementi,F. & Fabiani,M. & Molini,V., 2018. "The devil is in the details : growth, polarization, and poverty reduction in Africa in the past two decades," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8494, The World Bank.
    5. Clementi, Fabio & Molini, Vasco & Schettino, Francesco, 2018. "All that Glitters is not Gold: Polarization Amid Poverty Reduction in Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 275-291.
    6. Chiara Assunta Ricci, 2016. "The mobility of Italy’s middle income group," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 69(277), pages 173-197.
    7. Esteban Cabrera Cevallos & Edwin Buenaño, 2018. "¿Ha crecido la clase media en el Ecuador? Un análisis mediante índices de polarización del ingreso para el periodo 2007-2014," Revista de Economía del Rosario, Universidad del Rosario, vol. 21(1), pages 121-152, June.
    8. Sofía Plata, 2020. "Impacto de la estructura fiscal en el tamaño de la clase media," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 0920, Department of Economics - dECON.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income polarization; bipolarization; middle class; inequality; social policies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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