New York (CNN Business) America's middle class families aren't the only ones having a tough time these days.

Middle-income households are disappearing in developed countries around the world, according to a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The study, titled "Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class," laid out a litany of problems affecting middle-income households. And it warned that this could have serious consequences for nations' economic growth and social fabric.

"Today the middle class looks increasingly like a boat in rocky waters," said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. "Governments must listen to people's concerns and protect and promote middle-class living standards."

The middle class has been under stress for years, helping fuel the rise of progressive Democrats in the United States, who are seeking to increase taxes on the rich to provide a stronger safety net — including universal health care. But while many presidential candidates point to Europe as a model, the OECD report shows that problems exist there too.

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