Class Wars

The New York Times has an interesting interactive graphic that you can use to find out if you really are middle class (or whatever class you profess to being). It is somewhat subjective, as one of the four components of class relies on relative prestige rankings of various entirely unrelated occupations. For instance, an animal breeder ranks a 158, two points more prestigious than an artist. The prestige rankings are based on census surveys, but how many people sit there thinking, "Given the choice, would I prefer my daughter marry an urban planner or budget analyst?" The other three components are more straightforward and objective. The higher your education, income and assets, the higher the overall class score. Take it with a grain of salt, since it doesn't really matter all that much. Will knowing you are in the 61st percentile, making you technically upper middle class by this chart, mean you are any better than the person in the 59th percentile who is just middle class? Not really. Think of it as socioeconomic rubbernecking.