Inequality and challenges in the Spanish middle class: an uncertain future for young people.

The current situation of the middle class in Spain presents itself as a complex labyrinth, where perceptions of well-being and future expectations seem to clash with socioeconomic reality. A recent study by the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) reveals that 58% of respondents believe that today’s youth will live in conditions worse than those of their parents. However, there is a disconcerting nuance: the majority of these young people express satisfaction with their current standard of living and optimism regarding the improvement of their conditions in the future. This apparent contradiction is indicative of the transformation the middle class has undergone in recent decades. Economist Olga Cantó, a researcher at the University of Alcalá, highlights the heterogeneity of the Spanish middle class, which ranges from households with incomes of 1,083 euros per month to families earning 6,063 euros. According to Cantó's methodology, around 59.63% of the Spanish population belonged to the middle class in 2021, a figure significantly lower than that of other European countries such as France or Denmark. This disparity is accentuated in the lower-middle class, which represents 35% of the population, suggesting a different landscape compared to nations with greater social cohesion. The lower-middle class plays a fundamental role in the social structure, serving as a cohesive element in society. However, increasing inequality could be a worrying indicator, as the shrinking of this class is associated with a rise in the lower class, a phenomenon that has been evident in Spain since the financial crisis of 2008. In this context, sociologist José Saturnino Martínez García argues that social mobility, often referred to as the "social elevator," has been more illusion than reality, given that although the size of the economic "pie" has expanded, the distribution of its slices has not changed significantly. The notion of social class should not be limited to a purely economic analysis; it also involves aspects of occupation and property. Martínez García points out that while some young people may start their careers with similar salaries, their long-term economic trajectories can differ drastically depending on their education and opportunities. The expectation of constant improvement that characterized previous generations has been eroded by the economic uncertainty that has prevailed over the last decade. In this sense, the labor market and wages have undergone significant changes. Although the real average salary in Spain has shown slight growth since 1994, purchasing power has been impacted by the rising cost of living, especially in the housing sector. Rents have disproportionately increased, outpacing inflation and reaching alarming figures in regions like the Balearic Islands and cities like Barcelona. This reality has led many young people to live in cramped spaces, opting for "vertical shantytowns" as an alternative to the lack of affordable housing. Access to homeownership, which has historically been a pillar for the middle class in Spain, has become increasingly complicated. The combination of stagnant wages and constantly rising housing prices has created a gap between expectations and reality. Despite a high percentage of the population living in owned homes, the burden that rent places on incomes has limited saving capacity and exacerbated inequality among different socioeconomic groups. The duality in access to services such as education and healthcare underscores the heterogeneity within the middle class. While some can afford private insurance and charter schools, others rely on public services that, although of good quality, do not always offer the same opportunities for everyone. Educational segregation, as Martínez García points out, contributes to perpetuating class differences and limits the chances of advancement for those from lower-income backgrounds. The landscape drawn by the middle class in Spain is, therefore, a reflection of a system in which opportunities are not distributed equitably. As inequality persists and deepens, social cohesion is threatened, and the hope that young people can live better than their parents becomes an increasingly distant ideal. The transformation of the middle class, far from being a linear phenomenon, is a process marked by tensions and contradictions that demand deep reflection on the future of Spanish society. The path toward greater equality and social cohesion will largely depend on the public policies implemented, as well as the population's ability to adapt to a constantly changing environment. The middle class, as one of the most significant and variable groups, faces challenges that require urgent attention and creative solutions. The question of whether the social elevator has stopped working does not have a simple answer, but it is evident that the way forward demands a renewed commitment to collective well-being and a critical examination of the structures that shape the lives of millions of citizens in Spain.