Social Mobility, for those who don't know the term, refers to the ability of one's children to exceed the educational and class [[economic) attainment of their parents.
ie. Born to a HS graduate w/low-income, the child is able to climb, based on his or her merits to obtain some post-secondary and a job that pays materially better. [[middle class)
Historically, the United States associated itself with a high degree of social mobility [[the rags to riches story).
One aspect of this was that the US lacks a formal class structure that is easily reinforced by things like accent.
Another was that entry level, lower skill jobs used to pay relatively better than what was seen elsewhere; while post-secondary education had more spots and easier access relative to older nations.
All that said, the U.S. has slipped in social mobility, such that it is now more difficult for someone born to a low-income parent to climb out of poverty than in previous generations. It is also more difficult in the US than many other countries.
Is this a serious problem for the U.S.?
If so, what can/should be done about it?
Report here: [[from Brookings)
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content...awhill_ch3.pdf
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