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The “Model Minority” Myth: Asian American Middle Class Before, During, And After The Great Recession

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  • JESSIE X. FAN

    (Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Alfred Emery Building 228, 225 S. 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

  • HUA ZAN

    (Center on the Family, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2515 Campus Road, Miller Hall 103, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

Abstract

Data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (2003–2014) were used to both investigate trends in Asian American middle class status attainment before, during, and after the Great Recession and compare such attainment to that of non-Hispanic Whites. Using three different operational definitions of the middle class, we show that middle class size estimates during recession and post-recession were lower than pre-recession estimates for both Asian Americans and Whites. For all three periods, Asian Americans were substantially less likely to have achieved middle class status compared with Whites. The racial gap did not narrow or widen due to the Great Recession. Our analysis also found that basic demographic and socioeconomic differences explained a little over a quarter of this middle class attainment gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessie X. Fan & Hua Zan, 2019. "The “Model Minority” Myth: Asian American Middle Class Before, During, And After The Great Recession," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 64(01), pages 23-39, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:serxxx:v:64:y:2019:i:01:n:s0217590817430044
    DOI: 10.1142/S0217590817430044
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Burkhauser, Richard V. & Larrimore, Jeff & Simon, Kosali I., 2012. "A "Second Opinion" on the Economic Health of the American Middle Class," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 65(1), pages 7-32, March.
    2. Sherman Hanna & Jonghee Lee & Suzanne Lindamood, 2015. "Financial Behavior and Attitudes of Asians Compared to Other Racial/Ethnic Groups in the United States," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 309-318, September.
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