The Distribution of Household Income and the Middle Class

"Although not itself a subject of legislation, the shape of the income distribution enters Congress’s
decision-making process concerning such policy issues as taxes, means-tested benefits, and social
insurance programs. Congress also considers legislation specifically in the name of those in the
middle class, which is variously defined as some income level or income range within the distribution of U.S. households with income. After briefly analyzing the distribution of household money income in 2011, the report attempts to put the term “middle class” into some perspective..."
The Distribution of Household Income and the Middle Class