Soft underbellies everywhere - everywhere I look the “middle” is in trouble, middle clssss, middle management, midwit ideas, mid market products, middle child generations, all being attacked on both sides by economic downwinds and technological updrafts.
Todays signal looks at how the marginal middle class in South Africa has suffered/is suffering the greatest consequences of inflation and interest rates - largely driven by global forces outside of their voting control - and largely because they are the most reliant on debt to back their optimism and striving for a better future for their families. In South Africa, 1 in 4 home owners is selling due to rising interest rates. But when we look at the marginal middle class, that number increases to 1 in 2 sellers being financially distressed.
Now a society (and indeed an organisation) that doesn’t have middle, where the edges are separated by a cavern, is not a very stable society - it’s a polarised, divided one - fragile and in danger of being torn apart.
Your thoughts?
Are there any “wheres” with healthy middles?
What risks do missing middles present to those not stuck in the middle?
Read more :
The marginal middle : https://www.iol.co.za/property/high-interest-rates-living-costs-force-more-homeowners-to-sell-30390b6a-3079-4711-9d01-0e8109d64e24
The state we’re in : https://fluxtrends.com/six-key-trend-pillars-shaping-2024/
Soft underbellies