Brief Summary
This video explores the challenges of social mobility in the 21st century, highlighting how the class you are born into still significantly impacts your chances of success. The video examines the declining social mobility in countries like the US and UK, comparing it to countries with higher rates of social mobility like Canada and Denmark. It delves into the role of education, wealth inequality, and social capital in perpetuating class barriers. The video also explores initiatives aimed at improving social mobility, such as programs that provide early childhood interventions, support for low-income students, and efforts to diversify university admissions.
- Social mobility is declining in many rich countries, with the US and UK having particularly low rates.
- Education has become a key determinant of social mobility, with a university degree increasingly necessary for success.
- Social capital, or the networks and connections that help people get ahead, plays a significant role in perpetuating class advantages.
- Governments can play a role in improving social mobility by investing in education, promoting wealth redistribution, and addressing early childhood development.
Why it's harder to get rich if you're born poor
The video begins by highlighting the persistent issue of social mobility in many wealthy countries. Despite the perception of opportunity, the class you are born into still heavily influences your chances of success. The video uses the example of the US, often touted as the "land of opportunity," to illustrate how social mobility is declining, with lower chances of climbing the income ladder compared to other developed nations. This lack of social mobility is linked to growing political divisions and disaffection, as people feel they lack opportunities for advancement.
Social divisions are increasing within society
The video explores the widening gap between the rich and the poor, particularly in the US. The share of taxable income going to the top 1% has more than doubled since 1975, creating a situation where the rungs on the ladder of opportunity are further apart, making it harder for those at the bottom to climb up. This increasing income inequality is seen as a major contributor to declining social mobility and fuels populist movements on both the left and right.
Changing patterns of social mobility over time
The video examines the historical trends in social mobility, highlighting a period of significant social mobility boom in the post-World War II era, particularly in the US and UK. This was driven by an expansion in professional and managerial jobs, allowing many working-class individuals to move up the income ladder. However, this trend has reversed since the 1940s, with absolute mobility declining, and younger generations having a lower chance of surpassing their parents' income levels. This phenomenon has been dubbed the "fading American dream."
Education as a determinant of social mobility
The video emphasizes the growing importance of education in determining social mobility. The shift from manufacturing to service-based industries has created a demand for skilled workers with university degrees, leaving those without a degree at a disadvantage. This has led to a widening gap between those with and without higher education, with the former benefiting from higher-paying jobs in the service sector.
Class barriers to further education
The video explores the class barriers that exist in accessing higher education. It highlights the role of private schools, like Eton College in the UK, in disproportionately feeding the elite. While the influence of private schools on elite universities is declining, they still hold a significant advantage. The video also examines the practice of legacy admissions in the US, where colleges give preferential treatment to children of alumni, perpetuating a cycle of privilege.
Levelling the playing field
The video showcases initiatives aimed at leveling the playing field in university admissions. It features a state school in the UK that has successfully catapulted students from low-income families into top universities. The video also highlights the lawsuit filed against the University of California system over its use of standardized tests like the SATs, which were found to disadvantage students from lower-income backgrounds. The lawsuit led to the university dropping the SATs from its admissions process, potentially setting a precedent for other universities.
Social inequality starts from birth
The video emphasizes the importance of early childhood interventions in addressing social inequality. It highlights a program in Jamaica that provided homemade toys and books to low-income children, leading to significant long-term benefits in terms of their earnings and cognitive development. This program demonstrates the impact of early interventions in boosting children's chances of success.
Where you grow up matters
The video explores the impact of neighborhood on social mobility, using the example of a program in Seattle that helps low-income families move to areas with greater opportunities. The program is based on an "opportunity atlas" that maps out areas in the US where children born in the late 70s and early 80s went on to earn more as adults. The atlas reveals that children raised in certain areas, like the Great Plains and Upper Midwest, have higher mobility rates, suggesting that factors like two-parent families, good schools, and low levels of segregation contribute to greater opportunity.
The ‘opportunity atlas’ of America
The video introduces the "opportunity atlas" of America, a tool developed by economists using census data to track the economic outcomes of children based on their place of birth. The atlas highlights the significant impact of neighborhood on social mobility, with children raised in certain areas having significantly higher chances of earning more as adults. The video discusses the potential benefits of moving low-income families to areas with greater opportunity, but acknowledges the cost and logistical challenges of such a solution.
The importance of social capital
The video explores the concept of social capital, the invisible networks and connections that help perpetuate advantages for those from wealthy backgrounds. It highlights how social capital can provide access to opportunities, mentorship, and support that are often unavailable to those from lower-income backgrounds. The video features a group called the "93 Club" in the UK, which aims to provide students from state schools with the social capital they need to succeed in university and beyond.
What can governments do?
The video concludes by emphasizing the need for government intervention to improve social mobility. It argues that governments must commit to improving access to education, promoting wealth redistribution, and addressing early childhood development. The video suggests that the post-pandemic world presents a unique opportunity for change, as the issue of social mobility has become more prominent in policy discussions.
