Vulnerability factors in the middle class: evidence for Argentina and Mexico following the crisis of the 1990s

Abstract

This paper explores the profile of the Argentinean and Mexican middle classes during the most recent crisis in both countries. It combines the perspectives of social vulnerability and class analysis theoretically underlying a “matrix of vulnerability and social classes.” The analysis used household surveys in Argentina for 1998 and 2003 and those in Mexico for 1994 and 1996. The results show that whereas the Mexican middle class was primarily affected during the “Tequila crisis” through its physical assets (housing conditions), in Argentina, education and the labor market were the main mechanisms affected by the 2001 crisis.Este trabajo explora el perfil de la clase media argentina y la mexicana durante las últimas crisis en ambos países. Se combinan las miradas de vulnerabilidad social y análisis de clase, subyaciendo teóricamente una “matriz vulnerabilidad-clases sociales”. El análisis emplea las encuestas de hogares de Argentina para 1998 y 2003 y México, 1994 y 1996. Se observa que mientras la clase media mexicana se vio principalmente afectada durante la crisis llamada “efecto tequila” vía sus activos físicos (condiciones habitacionales), en Argentina la educación y el mercado laboral fueron los principales mecanismos afectados por la crisis de 2001.