Subjective Insecurity and Well-Being in the European Union

An essential feature of the middle class is its potentially threatened position between the upper and lower classes. Especially during economic crises, this is reflected in fears of falling out, i.e. in status anxiety. It can be expected that the euro crisis has been experienced as a major threat to subjective economic security and well-being in the EU, especially by the middle classes defined by a higher income and educational position. On the basis of the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions“ (EU-SILC 2005-2013), it will be analysed to what extent the middle class in different EU countries is affected by high levels of subjective economic insecurity and which individual characteristics, national welfare and employment systems, and European policies influence such feelings of economic insecurity. In addition, the ad-hoc-module 2013 of the EU-SILC data allows a closer look at the impact of subjective economic insecurity on well-being and political trust. In this way, it can be analysed which social groups and countries are most affected by the severe economic and unemployment crisis since 2010.