Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Mumbai

The document examines what it means to be and become 'middle class' in Mumbai, highlighting the importance of education, salaried employment, and assets like home ownership. It finds that while internal migration to Mumbai is a primary driver of social mobility, international migration is perceived as less essential for improving living standards. The study reveals a complex view of upward mobility that combines hard work, formal education, and social connections.

• Middle-class identity in Mumbai is associated with specific socio-cultural markers: 75% of survey respondents identify sending children to private schools as typical of the middle class, and two-thirds view motorbike ownership as a marker. Perceptions of home air-conditioners are more divided, with just over half seeing them as typical.
• Upward social mobility to the middle class is perceived as a combination of individual effort, formal qualifications, and social networks. While 80% of respondents believe being well educated and having a salaried job are key, over 75% also agree that 'social capital' in the form of the right connections is necessary, and more than 80% believe hard work is essential.
• Asset ownership, particularly owning a home, is a critical component of middle-class status in Mumbai, regardless of whether the property is financed through a loan.
• Internal migration is a dominant feature of Mumbai's middle-class trajectories; 51% of survey respondents were born elsewhere in India, and 40% of those were from outside the state of Maharashtra.
• International migration and remittances are not viewed as primary drivers for improving living standards by the vast majority of respondents, with fewer than 10% seeing them as necessary.
• Historically, Mumbai served as a 'transit hub' for people migrating from other parts of India to the Gulf states, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Current aspirations among Mumbai's middle class lean toward staying in the city, with 75% of respondents not expecting to move out within the next five years.

APA

Abraham, A., Erdal, M. B., Liao, K., & Falch, A. R. (2024). Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Mumbai. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/26b8306c-eddd-4f08-84e1-837c34d066f7/Middle Classes Moving and Staying in Mumbai PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Abraham, Anu, Marta Bivand Erdal, Karen Liao, and Anna Røer Falch. Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Mumbai. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2024. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/26b8306c-eddd-4f08-84e1-837c34d066f7/Middle Classes Moving and Staying in Mumbai PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Abraham |first1=Anu |last2=Erdal |first2=Marta Bivand |last3=Liao |first3=Karen |last4=Falch |first4=Anna Røer |title=Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Mumbai |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2024 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/26b8306c-eddd-4f08-84e1-837c34d066f7/Middle Classes Moving and Staying in Mumbai PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{abraham2024middle, author = {Abraham, Anu and Erdal, Marta Bivand and Liao, Karen and Falch, Anna Røer}, title = {{Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Mumbai}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2024}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/26b8306c-eddd-4f08-84e1-837c34d066f7/Middle Classes Moving and Staying in Mumbai PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }