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INTERGENERATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY IN BRITAIN AND THE U.S. SINCE 1850: COMMENT
1Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, 426 Thompson Street, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.
The American Economic Review
|August 24, 2013
Summary
Critiques of a study on U.S. social mobility (1880-1973) highlight data limitations and a flawed methodology for analyzing farmers, suggesting the main conclusion may be misleading.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economic History
Background:
- A recent study by Long and Ferrie (forthcoming) reported a significant decline in U.S. social mobility between 1880 and 1973.
- This finding has implications for understanding long-term socioeconomic trends in the United States.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the methodology and data quality of the Long-Ferrie study on U.S. social mobility.
- To reassess the conclusion regarding social mobility trends from 1880 to 1973.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of historical census and survey data used in the Long-Ferrie study.
- Critique of the statistical methods applied, particularly concerning the analysis of the farming sector.
Main Results:
- The data quality in the Long-Ferrie study is more constrained than acknowledged.
- The study's methodology is ill-suited for measuring social mobility among farmers during a period of significant occupational decline.
Conclusions:
- The primary conclusion of Long and Ferrie regarding declining social mobility is potentially driven by a misleading analysis of the farming population.
- Re-evaluation is needed to accurately assess U.S. social mobility trends over the specified period.
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