The Myth of Upward Mobility

Abstract

The idea of upward mobility—that anyone who works hard, obeys the law, and saves his money can get ahead—is deeply engrained. From Horatio Alger stories to current Hollywood productions and TV programs, America pays homage to the tale of the hard working, upward striving youth who starts out poor but overcomes obstacles, opens a business, invents a machine, marries well, and ends up in a social class many stations higher than the one in which he or she began.