Existence of middle class as a prerequisite of crowdfunding development

In current article, authors reveal the concept of the middle class and its role in the implementation and development of crowdfunding. The article aims to prove that the middle class is the social basis for the development of crowdfunding. The challenge lies in the definition of “middle class” and its elements and analysis of social society structure. The authors made an analysis of existing definitions of middle class and its key characteristics. Characteristics such as middle-class economic independence, awareness of its importance in public life, higher education and professional qualifications and political activity were argued. Also analyze of middle class in Ukraine was conducted, and its features and problematic aspects of research were identified. Author formulates following conclusion: there is a significant demand for microfinance in Ukraine, which can be secured using crowdfunding models of funds accumulation. Scientists agree that the existence of an active middle class in Ukraine – it is an exaggeration, because the characteristics of the Ukrainian middle class do not meet European and American perceptions of the middle class. Formation of the middle class is the basis for the development of civil society. Only in such circumstances, the development of crowdfunding becomes possible.