Crisis of the middle class in Spain: inequality and challenges for the youth future.

The middle class in Spain has undergone profound and concerning changes in recent decades, leading to an intense debate about its future position within the social structure. A recent study by the CIS reveals that a notable 58% of respondents believe that today's youth will live worse than their parents. Despite this pessimism, many young people claim to be satisfied with their current standard of living and, interestingly, believe it will improve in the coming years. This apparent contradiction reflects the complexity and heterogeneity of the middle class, which ranges from households with very low incomes to families approaching higher income levels. Economist Olga Cantó has analyzed the situation of the middle class in Spain, determining that in 2021, approximately 59.63% of the population fell into this category. Although this percentage is below the 70% found in countries like France and the Netherlands, it is important to highlight that the lower-middle class, which includes those earning between 75% and 125% of the national median, has become the most prominent stratum, representing nearly 35% of the population. This trend is concerning as it indicates increasing inequality, especially when considering that in other European nations, this lower-middle class is even broader. The discussion about the middle class becomes even more complicated when considering how this social group is defined. While economists tend to measure it in terms of income, sociologists like José Saturnino Martínez García suggest that class should be understood in terms of occupation and ownership. Thus, it is argued that a young person with a master's degree starting their career with a modest salary may have more long-term opportunities than a worker with limited education earning the same amount currently. This approach highlights the importance of opportunities and social mobility rather than focusing solely on current income. However, despite some signs of recovery, today's youth face an unstable economic environment marked by financial crises and global uncertainty. The 2008 crisis and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic have created a scenario where expectations for social mobility have been drastically altered. For many, the idea that the social elevator is functioning has lost credibility. Instead of continuous growth, young people have experienced a constant cycle of economic ups and downs that has shaped their perception of the future. One of the most determining factors in the quality of life for the middle class, especially among young people, is the cost of housing. The growing pressure from rents and the difficulty of accessing property have turned the dream of independence into an almost insurmountable challenge. According to recent reports, rent has increased from representing 34.4% of the average salary in 2013 to 49.1% in 2023, indicating a significant loss of purchasing power. Young people, with salaries that are generally below the average, find that a large part of their income goes toward housing, limiting their savings and future prospects. As rental prices rise, the phenomenon of "vertical shantytowns" also grows, where young people are forced to share rooms instead of renting entire homes. This situation reflects a deep crisis of access to housing, which not only affects the middle class but also contributes to social segmentation and inequality in the country. The expectations of inheriting property, which traditionally have provided stability, are endangered due to the escalation of prices in the real estate market. Inequality manifests not only in the economic sphere but also in access to education and health. In Spain, the education system shows increasing segregation, where charter schools seem to benefit in terms of academic results, but this is often due to a selection of students that excludes those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Differences in access to quality education perpetuate existing inequalities and limit opportunities for social mobility. The analysis of class structure in Spain also highlights the duality of the welfare system. While the middle classes may benefit from relatively accessible services, the most disadvantaged often find themselves relying on a system that does not adequately meet their needs. This duality becomes a factor of exclusion that reinforces the division between classes, making social cohesion and integration more difficult. The middle class in Spain is at a turning point. With the cost of living and expectations for social mobility in an environment of increasing inequality, the perception that this class can provide a path to a better quality of life is being questioned. The lack of consensus regarding the current and future situation of the middle class in Spain reflects the complexity and challenges facing society as a whole. For the middle class to regain its position and foster social cohesion, it will be necessary to address the structural inequalities that have arisen in recent decades and work toward a more inclusive and equitable model.