India’s Middle Class Hits a Breaking Point

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges facing India's middle class as outlined in the book 'Breakpoint: The Crisis of the Middle Class and the Future of Work'.

For decades, India’s growth story has rested on the spectacular rise of its middle class. But a new book argues that this very group—roughly 40 million income-tax–paying households—is now under acute strain. Facing a convergence of job disruption, wage stagnation, and rising debt, the middle class may no longer be the engine of growth it once was. This is the argument made in a new book titled, Breakpoint: The Crisis of the Middle Class and the Future of Work. It is authored by Saurabh Mukherjea, along with Nandita Rajhansa and Sapana Bhavsar.

People in this episode

Guests: Saurabh Mukherjea, Nandita Rajhansa, Sapana Bhavsar

Topics covered

• middle class
• economic strain
• job disruption
• wage stagnation
• rising debt

Keywords

• India
• growth story
• income-tax
• households

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Breakpoint: The Crisis of the Middle Class and the Future of Work

Books & works: Breakpoint: The Crisis of the Middle Class and the Future of Work

Places: India

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