Document Type

Lecture

Publication Date

2-10-2026

Publisher

Brookings Mountain West

First page number:

1

Last page number:

27

Abstract

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presented a lecture titled, "The Rise of the Global Middle Class" by Brookings senior fellow in global economy and development, Homi Kharas.

For the last two hundred years, ever since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the most successful economies in the world have developed large, stable middle classes. With globalization, the expansion of the middle class has accelerated to a historically unprecedented speed. But global consumerism is scaling faster than the adaptation of institutions, ecosystems, and social norms. Brookings senior fellow Homi Kharas discusses his most recent book, The Rise of the Global Middle Class, tracing that the middle class is not an abstract international trend, but directly intersects with American consumption patterns, work cultures, and expectations of the “good life.” Las Vegas shows how middle-class aspiration can thrive only if it becomes compatible with social and environmental reality. The sheer size of the middle class is stressing climate, water, and biodiversity systems; social systems of fairness, equality and dignified work; and governance systems of democracy and meritocracy. This lecture argues that although the middle class across the world is becoming more dissatisfied, its dream for a good life can still be realized if it adopts norms for spending patterns, work habits, and public policy choices that favor sustainable production and consumption.

Keywords

Wealth; Poverty; Consumerism; Climate; Environment; Sustainability; Happiness

Disciplines

Agricultural and Resource Economics | Economic Policy | Economics | Global Studies | Growth and Development | Income Distribution | Public Policy | Social Welfare

File Format

pdf

File Size

2.4 MB

Run Time

01:14:54

Streaming Media

Language

English

Download


Share

COinS