Recent newspapers, magazines and TV news
channels have dealt with the a growing group of citizens such as “the Rise of Asia’s Middle Class”, “the new middle classes rise up”, “Lebanese middle class
diminishing in size” or certain have asked “Why
did the Egyptian Middle Class March to Tahrir Square”. This blog focuses on the
middle class, in part because of their involvement in the social uprisings in
the Arab region.
These groups are increasingly economically and politically marginalized. The
second reason we focus on the middle class is their economic and political
importance. The middle
class is an important category of interest not only because they are the main
drivers of economic activity and, thus, vital to the economic development of
any country, but also because they are an interest group which influences
political and social life. In comparison to other groups, members of the middle
class typically constitute a broader stratum of the population, including a
wide range of professional, political, economic and social profiles. Often
politicians count on the middle class as their main constituent and draw on
them for substantial support for policy positions.
To respond to this challenge, ESCWA is
trying to make sense of how the middle class could be assisted so that there is
inclusive growth in the region. It is trying to crack the nuts and bolts
of this important group: their importance in light of current developments in the region,
their participation in the economic development, their roles in promoting
economic development for poverty reduction, the impact of policy changes on
them, policies that support them and policies that should be avoided.
All these work will culminate into an ESCWA publication on the Arab middle
class, which will attempt to answer two major questions: who are the Arab
middle class and what has happened to them? (to be published in September 2014).
More importantly, the report will argue that the path to regional stability and
inclusive development will depend on what happens to the Arab middle class.