Prosperous towns had a small, affluent elite made up of doctors, lawyers and bankers.

"Government policies favoring private car ownership by a tiny but affluent elite are squandering scarce resources and distorting development priorities," said Michael Renner, the study's author.

The Polis status was beneficiary to the affluent elite whose members could stand for election in the various civic institutions.

With the average annual Chinese income still around $1,000 a person, cars remain purchases for a small, affluent elite.

Mr. Gingrich, on the other hand, portrays the endowment as a sandbox for the affluent cultural elite.

The endowment's own statistics show that attendance at cultural events are skewed strikingly toward a small percentage of the population, the affluent elite.

Successful marketing during the Industrial Revolution helped to firmly establish Champagne's reputation among the middle class and affluent elite of the time.

They deplore what they call a growing gap between the middle class, which is struggling to adjust to a changing job market, and the affluent elites who have prospered in the new economy.

The affluent elite is cloistered from the war inside high-walled mansions, watched by bodyguards.

She states that among the "affluent elite" - described as "incomes over $50,000, graduate education" - only 13 percent attend classical music performances.