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1. Social mobility in Britain has stagnated, with family background increasingly determining life outcomes

Britain has the lowest social mobility in the developed world.

Stagnant mobility. Social mobility in Britain has declined in recent decades, with children's life outcomes increasingly tied to their parents' socioeconomic status. Studies show that only about 9% of children from the poorest fifth of families make it into the top fifth of earners as adults, compared to 13.5% in Canada. This lack of mobility means talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are unable to reach their full potential, while those born into privilege are likely to maintain their status regardless of merit.

International comparisons. Britain consistently ranks at the bottom of international league tables for income mobility among developed nations. Countries like Canada, Germany, and the Scandinavian nations all demonstrate higher levels of social mobility. This suggests that Britain's rigid social structure is not inevitable, but rather the result of specific societal and policy choices that could potentially be changed to improve mobility.

2. Inequality and economic shifts have widened the gap between rich and poor, hindering upward mobility

We are returning to an age where earnings from financial assets far exceed simple wages.

Growing divides. Economic inequality in Britain has increased dramatically since the 1980s, with the richest pulling further away from the rest of society. This widening gap makes it increasingly difficult for those from lower-income backgrounds to catch up. Key factors include:

• Shift from manufacturing to service economy, eliminating many well-paid working-class jobs
• Rise of the "gig economy" with insecure, low-paid work
• Stagnant real wages for many workers while top earners see major gains
• Increasing importance of inherited wealth and property ownership

Productivity puzzle. Britain's economic productivity has stagnated since the 2008 financial crisis, further limiting opportunities for wage growth and upward mobility. This "productivity puzzle" has particularly impacted younger workers, who face worse economic prospects than previous generations.

3. Geography plays a crucial role in social mobility, with stark regional differences across Britain

Where you live has a profound impact on your educational prospects.

Mobility hotspots and coldspots. Research has revealed significant geographic variation in social mobility across Britain. London and some other urban areas offer relatively high levels of opportunity, while many coastal towns, former industrial centers, and rural areas have become "mobility coldspots" with limited prospects for advancement.

Place-based factors. Several interconnected factors contribute to these regional differences:

• Quality of local schools and educational opportunities
• Availability of good jobs and economic dynamism
• Transport links and connectivity to opportunity hubs
• Community factors like social capital and aspirational culture
• Housing affordability and residential segregation

Brexit divide. The geographic divide in social mobility closely mirrors the pattern of voting in the 2016 EU referendum, with areas of low mobility more likely to vote Leave. This highlights the deep connections between economic opportunity, social cohesion, and political discontent.

4. The education system perpetuates inequality rather than acting as a great social leveller

Far from acting as the great social leveller, education has been commandeered by the middle classes to retain their advantage from one generation to the next.

Educational arms race. While education is often seen as key to social mobility, in practice the system often reinforces existing inequalities. Middle- and upper-class families deploy various strategies to give their children educational advantages:

• Private tutoring and extracurricular enrichment
• Moving to catchment areas of top state schools
• Navigating complex admissions processes for selective schools and universities
• Unpaid internships and networking for career advancement

Early gaps. Achievement gaps between rich and poor students emerge early and tend to widen over time. By age three, children from disadvantaged backgrounds already lag behind peers in cognitive development and essential life skills.

Higher education divide. Despite expansion of university access, graduates from privileged backgrounds are still far more likely to attend elite universities and enter top professions. Postgraduate degrees have become a new frontier of inequality, largely inaccessible to those without family financial support.

5. Britain's privately educated elites continue to dominate top professions and leadership positions

In every single sphere of British influence, the upper echelons of power in 2013 are held overwhelmingly by the privately educated or the affluent middle class.

Persistent privilege. Despite making up only 7% of the population, privately educated individuals are vastly overrepresented in leadership positions across British society:

• 74% of top judges
• 71% of top military officers
• 61% of top doctors
• 51% of leading journalists
• 50% of cabinet ministers
• 44% of the Sunday Times Rich List

Exclusive networks. Private schools provide not just academic advantages, but also social and cultural capital that helps alumni advance in their careers. This includes confidence, polish, and access to powerful networks.

Rising costs. As private school fees have skyrocketed, they have become increasingly unaffordable for all but the wealthiest families. This threatens to further entrench social divisions and limit upward mobility.

6. Millions of Britons lack basic literacy and numeracy skills, creating an "education underclass"

For all the advances we have made, and are making in education, we still, every year allow thousands more children to join an educational underclass – they are the lost souls our school system has failed.

Skills crisis. Around 9 million working-age adults in England lack basic numeracy or literacy skills, significantly limiting their life prospects. This "education underclass" faces major barriers to employment, health, and civic participation.

Persistent problem. Despite various education reforms and increased spending, the proportion of young people leaving school without basic skills has remained stubbornly high. This suggests deeper, systemic issues that are not easily solved by policy tweaks.

Intergenerational cycle. Poor basic skills tend to be passed down through generations, as parents with low literacy and numeracy struggle to support their children's learning. Breaking this cycle requires interventions that support both children and adults.

7. Improving social mobility requires addressing multiple interconnected factors, not a single solution

Improving social mobility is likely to involve working on several interconnecting fronts.

Multifaceted approach. Enhancing social mobility requires tackling various interrelated issues:

• Reducing extreme inequality
• Promoting inclusive economic growth
• Improving education at all levels
• Addressing regional disparities
• Enhancing early childhood development
• Reforming labor markets and workplace practices
• Tackling discrimination and bias

Evidence-based policy. Rigorous research and evaluation are crucial to identify effective interventions. Small-scale successes often prove difficult to replicate at a national level, highlighting the need for careful implementation and ongoing assessment.

Long-term commitment. Meaningful improvements in social mobility require sustained effort over generations. Short-term political cycles and changing priorities can undermine progress, necessitating broad societal consensus on the importance of this issue.

8. Opportunity hoarding by elites and the middle class further entrenches social immobility

Opportunity hoarding is the term first coined by American sociologist Charles Tilly to describe the tactics deployed by better-off families to prevent their children sliding down the social ladder and being overtaken by upstarts from below.

Preserving advantage. Wealthy and middle-class families employ various strategies to maintain their children's social position:

• Using connections to secure internships and job opportunities
• Investing heavily in educational advantages
• Leveraging cultural capital and "soft skills"
• Passing down inherited wealth and property

Zero-sum game. In a society with limited opportunities for advancement, opportunity hoarding by those at the top directly reduces chances for upward mobility from below. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle of inequality.

Ethical dilemmas. Many parents face difficult choices between doing what's best for their own children and supporting a more meritocratic system. Addressing opportunity hoarding requires both policy changes and shifts in social norms.

9. Multi-generational persistence of advantage and disadvantage is more pronounced than previously thought

The higher up Britain's social hierarchy you go, the stickier it gets.

Long-term trends. Recent research suggests that social status persists across multiple generations, far longer than previously assumed. Advantages of wealth, education, and connections can be passed down for 10-15 generations or more.

Compounding effects. Over time, small initial advantages can compound into significant differences in life outcomes. This helps explain the remarkable staying power of some elite families and institutions in British society.

Policy implications. Understanding multi-generational persistence highlights the need for sustained, long-term efforts to promote social mobility. It also suggests that interventions targeting only parent-child relationships may be insufficient to create lasting change.

Last updated: October 17, 2024