Revealed: How Youth in High Inequality Countries Believe More in Their Future Even as Reality Paints a Different Picture
Youths in nations with substantial income disparity exhibit a higher propensity to adopt the notion of social mobility.
Emerging research spilling the beans in the science journal, "Science", suggests an unexpected phenomenon: young folks in high inequality countries like Albania, Jamaica, or Kazakhstan have a stronger belief in their future prospects in comparison to their peers in nations with less inequality, such as France or South Korea. Yes, you heard it right! But remember, dreams aren't always a safe bet.
In a nutshell, hope flourishes in the fertile grounds of inequality—a strange paradox, indeed. But, this hope isn't always reliable and can spark social instability. Despite a rosy economy, optimism among the youth can bring about unforeseen consequences.
It's worth noting that social mobility—the transformation of one's social class—should ideally offer the same opportunities regardless of one's background. Yep, you guessed it, we're talking about times full of economic growth, where many young people comfortably surpassed their parents' status, thanks to the outstanding work of Francesca Borgonovi from the University College London and Artur Pokropek from the Educational Research Institute in Warsaw, as explained in the study.
Alas, today's world is marred by increasing inequality, and we're seeing a stronger correlation between wealth and children's future prospects—a barrier to overcoming social barriers and fostering equal opportunities. As Borgonovi and Pokropek observe, "The rising tide does not lift all boats equally: yachts are lifted higher than dinghies."
Interestingly, this phenomenon is dubbed the "Great Gatsby Curve". Basically, in nations with more inequality, social mobility is generally lower, which could translate to frustration, disillusionment, and even social unrest among the younger generation.
Research from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reveals that, on average, about 40% of young people from lower-income backgrounds in countries like Albania, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, and Romania still expect to attain a higher status later on. In stark contrast, South Korea (18%), Malaysia (20%), and France (22%) show significantly fewer young individuals with this expectation.
So, what's the deal? Well, young people might struggle to distinguish if status differences are due to personal drive or unearned privileges. Their expectations could be influenced by prevalent success narratives that often don't reflect the actual opportunities for upward mobility.
But, during economic growth, this paradox doesn't pose a significant threat to society. If living standards generally improve, young people can easily surpass their parents, oblivious to their privileged peers' opportunities. However, with shifting economic conditions, unmet expectations can cause a dip in well-being, trust in institutions, civic participation, and even political upheavals.
Sources: ntv.de, kst/dpa
- Inequality and Youth
- Expectations versus Reality
- Economic Growth
Risky Business: A Deeper Look at the Implications
- Disillusionment: Misaligned expectations can lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and a sour outlook on the system.
- Social Unrest: Perceptions of unfairness can induce social unrest, pushing forth demands for change.
- Mental Health Concerns: The pressure to achieve upward mobility can have negative impacts on mental health.
- Economic Inequality: Maintained or increased economic disparities can perpetuate cycles of poverty and limit opportunities for advancement.
- Policy Challenges: Addressing these issues necessitates policy reforms aimed at education and economic opportunities to facilitate social mobility.
- Remarkably, the disconnect between young people's expectations and reality could result in feelings of disillusionment and a negative outlook towards the system.
- Perceived fairness plays a significant role in social stability, and disparities in opportunities can stimulate social unrest, sparking demands for change.
- The pressure to achieve mobility can also lead to mental health concerns, as upward mobility remains elusive for many young individuals.
- In high inequality countries, maintained or increased economic disparities may perpetuate cycles of poverty, limiting opportunities for advancement and progress.
- Policy-makers face challenges in addressing these issues, requiring policy and legislation that focuses on education and economic opportunities to foster social mobility, promote equal opportunities, and avoid future political upheavals.
