Status Attainment and Status Attainment and MobilityMobility

Social mobilitySocial mobility– Blau and Blau and

Duncan’s Status Duncan’s Status Attainment ModelAttainment Model

– Wisconsin School Wisconsin School of Mobility of Mobility StudiesStudies

Social mobility: “any Social mobility: “any transition of an individual or transition of an individual or social object or value—social object or value—anything that has been anything that has been created or modified by created or modified by human activity—from one human activity—from one social position to another.” social position to another.”

(Pitirim A.Sorokin, 1959)(Pitirim A.Sorokin, 1959)

Father’s Education

Father’s Occupation

Son’s Occupation in 1962

Son’s 1st Occupation

Son’s Education

+

+

+

++

++

+

Blau and Duncan’s Status Attainment Model

Son’s Occupation (in percent)

Father’s Occupation

Upper White-Collar

Lower White-Collar

Upper Manual

Lower Manual Farm Total

Upper white-collar

Lower white-collar

Upper manual

Lower Manual

Farm

Total

Basic Mobility Table Structure

Son’s Occupation (in percent)

Father’s Occupation

Upper White-Collar

Lower White-Collar

Upper Manual

Lower Manual Farm Total

Upper white-collar 60 14 11 14 1 100

Lower white-collar 39 18 19 23 1 100

Upper manual 32 10 33 24 2 100

Lower Manual 27 11 25 37 1 100

Farm 19 10 22 33 16 100

Total 36 12 23 27 3 100

Outflow from Father’s Occupation to Son’s Occupation, 1982-1990

Son’s Occupation (in percent)

Father’s Occupation

Upper White-Collar

Lower White-Collar

Upper Manual

Lower Manual Farm Total

Upper white-collar 60 14 11 14 1 100

Lower white-collar 39 18 19 23 1 100

Upper manual 32 10 33 24 2 100

Lower Manual 27 11 25 37 1 100

Farm 19 10 22 33 16 100

Total 36 12 23 27 3 100

Outflow from Father’s Occupation to Son’s Occupation, 1982-1990

Upward Mobility

Downward Mobility

100100100100100100Total

15751915128Farm

27537292420Lower Manual

241122352022Upper manual

12511101914Lower white-collar

21411112536Upper white-collar

TotalFarmLower

ManualUpper

Manual

Lower White-Collar

Upper White-Collar

Father’s Occupation

Son’s Occupation (in percent)

Inflow to Son’s Occupation from Father’s Occupation, 1982-1990

Upward Mobility

Downward Mobility

Basic Conclusions from Mobility and Status Attainment Research

• Though upward mobility has slowed somewhat, overall, upward mobility still outweighs downward mobility (in general).

• Occupational inheritance in the U.S. is fairly high at the top and bottom of the occupational structure. Between the extremes, inheritance is less and intergenerational mobility is relatively greater.

• Overall, most social mobility in U.S. is short-range mobility.

Basic Conclusions from Mobility and Status Attainment Research

• The occupational pattern for Blacks in the U.S. indicates that there is much occupational inheritance at the bottom of the occupational hierarchy and occupational disinheritance at the top.

• Women, in general, are concentrated in lower non-manual positions. No matter where women originate (in terms of parental occupation), they are likely to move into lower non-manual positions.

Basic Conclusions from Mobility and Status Attainment Research

• Both family background and education are strongly related to career success.

• Family background can give some people a “double boost” if they are from a privileged background…– Parental status can affect career success (e.g.

parent may have “connections”)– High parental status affects educational

attainment (thus, family background has an indirect effect on career success through education)

Basic Conclusions from Mobility and Status Attainment Research

• Background variables account for nearly half of the variance in occupational attainment. This includes parental occupation, parental education, income, and race.

• Though the effect of education on career success matches that of background, there is a persistent problem of lack of access to education among various groups (especially low income, and racial minorities).

Basic Conclusions from Mobility and Status Attainment Research

• The most recent research on occupational mobility indicates that occupational inheritance is on the rise and the affect of education on attainment is declining.

Sample AnnotationSample Annotation

Korenman, Sanders, David Neumark. 1991. “Does Marriage Korenman, Sanders, David Neumark. 1991. “Does Marriage Really Really

Make Men More Productive?” Make Men More Productive?” The Journal of Human The Journal of Human

Resources Resources 26(2):282-307.26(2):282-307.

   Addresses the question of why married men earn Addresses the question of why married men earn more than non-married men—even after controlling for more than non-married men—even after controlling for relevant human capital variables, region, and industry. relevant human capital variables, region, and industry. Examines the hypothesis that the marriage premium is Examines the hypothesis that the marriage premium is based on productivity differences between married and based on productivity differences between married and non-married men. The authors confirm the existence of a non-married men. The authors confirm the existence of a marriage premium for white men even controlling for marriage premium for white men even controlling for human capital variables. Data is dated (1984). Results are human capital variables. Data is dated (1984). Results are in contrast to 1992 article by same author which explores in contrast to 1992 article by same author which explores marriage/motherhood penalty for women. Article has very marriage/motherhood penalty for women. Article has very nice review of the research done on the causes of the nice review of the research done on the causes of the marriage premium for men. marriage premium for men.

Rank the following Rank the following occupations according occupations according to their general to their general standing in society:standing in society:

DoctorDoctor SecretarySecretary School teacherSchool teacher Waiter/waitressWaiter/waitress Maid/servantMaid/servant

NORC Ranking/Duncan NORC Ranking/Duncan SEISEI

Doctor (92)Doctor (92) School teacher (70-72)School teacher (70-72) Secretary(44)Secretary(44) Waiter/waitress (16)Waiter/waitress (16) Maid/servant (7)Maid/servant (7)