Definition:
Upper class refers to people whose economic position is defined primarily by ownership of significant assets, capital, or inherited wealth rather than labour income.
Usage Context:
Used in class analysis, political economy, and discussions of power and wealth concentration.
Critical Note:
Upper-class influence is often understated or normalised. Asset-based security allows insulation from risk while shaping systems that transfer uncertainty downward.
Related Terms:
Power Consolidation, Resource Capture, Inequality, Institutional Self-Alignment