Social Mobility and Education in Britain
Research, Politics and Policy

A comprehensive examination of social mobility and education in Britain that exposes prevailing misconceptions of social mobility in decline.

Erzsébet Bukodi (Author), John H. Goldthorpe (Author)

9781108468213, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 13 December 2018

260 pages, 36 b/w illus. 19 tables
22.8 x 15.1 x 1.3 cm, 0.44 kg

'The authors draw together results of a body of intergenerational research applying latest methods to extensive evidence, mainly from the British birth cohort studies, women as well as men. These insights are badly needed in view of the confusion about social mobility in the political sphere. The authors explain how relative class mobility is not 'going down', is not 'worse' than many other countries, and may be hindered rather than helped by education policies. They also point out that social fluidity is limited politically by parents' rights to pass on their position in an unequal structure.' Heather Joshi, University of London

Building upon extensive research into modern British society, this book traces out trends in social mobility and their relation to educational inequalities, with surprising results. Contrary to what is widely supposed, Bukodi and Goldthorpe's findings show there has been no overall decline in social mobility – though downward mobility is tending to rise and upward mobility to fall - and Britain is not a distinctively low mobility society. However, the inequalities of mobility chances among individuals, in relation to their social origins, have not been reduced and remain in some respects extreme. Exposing the widespread misconceptions that prevail in political and policy circles, this book shows that educational policy alone cannot break the link between inequality of condition and inequality of opportunity. It will appeal to students, researchers, policy makers, and anyone interested in the issues surrounding social inequality, social mobility and education.

Introduction
1. Social class as the context of social mobility
2. Class mobility in absolute terms: the end of the Golden Age
3. Class mobility in relative terms: resistance to change
4. The pattern of social fluidity within the class structure: hierarchy, inheritance and status effects
5. Education and social mobility: the OED triangle
6. Social origins, ability and educational attainment: is there a wastage of talent?
7. Education and the labour market: is education now class destiny?
8. Origins versus education: are there 'glass floors' and 'glass ceilings'?
9. Lifelong learning: compensation or cumulative advantage?
10. Social mobility in Britain in comparative perspective: is Britain a low mobility society?
Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Population & demography [JHBD], Sociology [JHB]