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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    The Middle Class Shrinks in 9 out of 10 US Cities

    While a small number of people are getting even more wealthy, the Pew Research Center has confirmed yet again that the American middle class is shrinking. According to Pew's recent analysis of government data, from 2000 to 2014, the share of adults living in middle-income households fell in 203 of the 229 U.S. metropolitan areas examined.

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    By Madeleine Brand • May 12, 2016 • 1 min read

    While a small number of people are getting even more wealthy, the Pew Research Center has confirmed yet again that the American middle class is shrinking. According to Pew's recent analysis of government data, from 2000 to 2014, the share of adults living in middle-income households fell in 203 of the 229 U.S. metropolitan areas examined. That's nearly nine in 10 areas where the middle class lost ground, and in some cities, the decrease measured six percentage points.

    The full episode

    2 of 5
    The Middle Class Is Shrinking While the Rich Stay Rich
    1. 0:31Why Hasn’t the Carried Interest Tax Loophole Been Eliminated
    2. 9:30The Middle Class Shrinks in 9 out of 10 US CitiesYou’re reading this
    3. 18:22The Band YACHT's Internet Hoax and Other Web News
    4. 28:05Chew Fox, Boomer the Dog and other ‘Fursonas’ Featured in New Doc
    5. 40:58Will the Oscars Be Less White Next Year?
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Manuel Pastor

      distinguished professor of sociology and American studies & ethnicity at the University of Southern California

      News

    The full episode

    2 of 5
    The Middle Class Is Shrinking While the Rich Stay Rich
    1. 0:31Why Hasn’t the Carried Interest Tax Loophole Been Eliminated
    2. 9:30The Middle Class Shrinks in 9 out of 10 US CitiesYou’re reading this
    3. 18:22The Band YACHT's Internet Hoax and Other Web News
    4. 28:05Chew Fox, Boomer the Dog and other ‘Fursonas’ Featured in New Doc
    5. 40:58Will the Oscars Be Less White Next Year?
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand