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Upward social mobility, well-being and political preferences: evidence from the BHPS

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  • Clark, Andrew Eric
  • D'Angelo, Emanuela

Abstract

The paper uses 18 waves of BHPS data to provide evidence of the roles of both own social status and upward mobility relative to one's parents on job and life satisfaction, preferences for redistribution, pro-public sector attitudes and voting. Both own social status and greater mobility with respect to parents are positively associated with subjective well-being. However, this symmetric effect disappears for political preferences. While greater social status is associated with less favourable attitudes to redistribution and the public sector, greater upward mobility is associated with more Left-wing attitudes. These attitudes translate into actual reported voting behaviour. Upwards social mobility produces satisfied Left-wingers.

Suggested Citation

  • Clark, Andrew Eric & D'Angelo, Emanuela, 2013. "Upward social mobility, well-being and political preferences: evidence from the BHPS," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121792, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:121792
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/121792/
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    1. Liu, Kelly J. & Stutzer, Alois, 2024. "The Role of Social Mobility Experience in Zero-Sum Beliefs," IZA Discussion Papers 17407, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    social mobility; satisfaction; redistribution; inequality; voting; wellbeing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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