新作坊 Humanity Innovation and Social Practice

ETHNIC IDENTITY AND SOCIAL MOBILITY AN EVALUATION OF DRAWBACKS AND RESOURCES

摘要：

In this paper we contend that ethnic identity is not a major factor in social mobility. We expect that it can be both a resource as well as a drawback to mobility, depending on conditions. The challenge is to 1) measure the salience of ethnic identity, 2) trace identity changes over generations, 3) measure the extent of social mobility of ethnic groups, 4) trace mobility changes over time, and 5) compare rates of identity and mobility change to see whether ethnic identity retards or enhances mobility. Many studies have addressed some of these issues, but to our knowledge few if any, have been able to deal with all of them together. The literature on both the drawback and resource sides is rich and varied.