What is Social Mobility?

Ø      Social Mobility

According to Fairchild, “Social Mobility is a movement from one condition to another.”

Bredemeyer and Stephensen say “Social mobility is moving of an individual or group of people from one status to another.”

Horon and Hunt “Social mobility may be defined as the act of moving from one social class to another.”

Types of Social Mobility

1.      Territorial Mobility(residence from one place to another)

2.      Vertical Mobility(Exchange mobility)

a)      Upward Mobility

b)      Downward Mobility

3.      Horizontal Mobility(From peon to Gardner)

4.      Inter-generational Mobility(takes place between generations)

5.      Intra-generational Mobility(takes place in same generation)

6.      Structural Mobility

Individual and Group Mobility

Direction of Social Mobility

Causes of Social Mobility(From Taga)

1.      Dissatisfaction from Previous Condition

2.      Adoption of new Condition

3.      Industrial and Technological Development

4.      Education

5.      Urbanization

6.      Means of Communication and Transportation

If desirable social statuses are actually available to all who make an effort to reach them, there will probably be little agitation for absolute social inquilty.

Mobility Determinants(From H.Hunt)

1.      Structural Factors

                                                                                I.      Occupational Structure

                                                                             II.      Differential Fertility

                                                                           III.      Dual Economy

                                                                          IV.      Mobility Aids and barriers

2.      Individual Factors

                                                                                I.      Ability Differences

                                                                             II.      Mobility Oriented behavior

a)      Education

b)      Work Habits

c)      Deferred-Gratification Pattern

d)      Mobility “Game Playing”

e)      The value –stretch Hypothesis

                                                                           III.      The luck factor

What about Povety?

                                    Overcoming Handicaps

                                    Transfer Payments

                        Mobility or Equality