From Hope to Reality: The Paradox of Youth Social Mobility in Countries with High Inequality
Youths residing in nations with substantial economic inequality tend to adopt a strong conviction in social mobility opportunities.
Sparking controversy, a study reveals that young individuals in nations like Albania, Jamaica, or Kazakhstan have a stronger belief in their future prospects than their counterparts in France or South Korea. But before you raise your eyebrows, let's dive deeper into this puzzling phenomenon.
Listen up, folks! A pair of scholars from the journal "Science" spotted a peculiar trend: youth, especially in countries where income disparities are highest, tend to express a robust faith in their chances of upward social mobility. Although this optimism might seem counterintuitive, it's the current reality in many countries!
Researchers Borgonovi from the University College London and Pokropek from the Educational Research Institute in Warsaw explain that, yet, this hope is often misleading and fraught with risks for society. As it turns out, the correlation between social mobility and inequality is complex. In unequal societies, the likelihood of moving up or down the social ladder is lower. This disparity can spark frustration, disillusionment, and even social unrest among the younger generation.
To put it simply, equal opportunities for social mobility should be expected regardless of one's family background. Yet, in booming economies, many youngsters have surpassed their parent's status, according to the experts.
Inequality on the Rise
It seems that the gap between the rich and the poor is becoming more pronounced in many countries, including Germany. Although the income gap in earnings has slightly narrowed due to the increase in the statutory minimum wage, overall, inequality has hiked significantly over the past few decades.
Increased inequality, coupled with an intensifying link between parental wealth and children's opportunities, is working against upward mobility, the researchers affirm. As they put it, economic growth lifts yachts more than dinghies.
The greater the inequality, the lower the social mobility – a pattern dubbed the Great Gatsby Curve. Here's the snag: young people's expectations of upward mobility are the highest in countries where income disparities are the most pronounced, as the data from the PISA study shows.
On average, 15-year-olds from lower social backgrounds in countries like Albania, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, and Romania expect to attain a higher status later on – around 40%. In Germany and other countries like South Korea, Malaysia, and France, only 18%, 20%, and 22% of young people in this group anticipate the same.
Confidence and Optimism
The study considered the responses of approximately 390,000 students from 57 countries, aged 15, including Germany, Spain, Albania, Brazil, the USA, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Boys and girls were inquired about various aspects, and part of the questions revolved around where they saw themselves in their country's social hierarchy when they reach the age of 30. Most 15-year-olds had a firm belief that they would surpass their parents' social standing in all countries under review.
Education was viewed as the key to success by young individuals, who often struggle to distinguish whether status differences are due to personal drive, effort, and skills or unearned privileges. Their expectations may be affected by common success narratives that often don't align with the actual chances for upward mobility.
Growth Plays a Role
To the external eye, prolonged economic growth may have little discernible impact on society. Indeed, if the standard of living improves generally, young individuals may achieve a better status than their parents, barely noticing the more privileged peers' chances. Economically speaking, this consistent growth helps maintain social cohesion in societies, despite growing income disparities and future prospects increasingly hinging on parental status.
Yet, the times are a-changin'. If expectations are unmet and the sense of frustration mounts, it can lead to reduced well-being, lower trust in institutions, less civic engagement, and even political unrest.
Sources: ntv.de, kst/dpa
- Youth
- Social Mobility
- Income Inequality
- In countries with high income inequality, such as Albania, Jamaica, and Kazakhstan, younger individuals express a high level of optimism regarding their prospects for upward social mobility, which might seem counterintuitive.
- The study found that, despite their optimism, the reality is that social mobility is often lower in countries where income disparities are more pronounced, leading to frustration, disillusionment, and potential social unrest among the younger generation.
- The researchers in the study noted that economic growth can help maintain social cohesion, but if expectations are not met and frustration mounts, it can lead to reduced well-being, lower trust in institutions, less civic engagement, and even political unrest.
- One surprising finding from the study is that, on average, 15-year-olds from lower social backgrounds in countries with the most pronounced income disparities, such as Albania, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, and Romania, expect to attain a higher status later on – around 40%. In contrast, in countries with lower inequality, like Germany, South Korea, Malaysia, and France, fewer young people from this group anticipate the same – only 18%, 20%, and 22%, respectively.
