With Boris Johnson making the 20th Prime Minister to have attended Eton (considered the most prestigious private school in the UK), concerns are heightening around stagnating social mobility and class privilege. Data shows that students with a privileged background but a 2:2 degree end up with better jobs than their ethnic minority peers who achieve a 1st …
This article is only available to Macro Hive subscribers. Sign-up to receive world-class macro analysis with a daily curated newsletter, podcast, original content from award-winning researchers, cross market strategy, equity insights, trade ideas, crypto flow frameworks, academic paper summaries, explanation and analysis of market-moving events, community investor chat room, and more.
(You can listen to the podcast by clicking here)
With Boris Johnson making the 20th Prime Minister to have attended Eton (considered the most prestigious private school in the UK), concerns are heightening around stagnating social mobility and class privilege. Data shows that students with a privileged background but a 2:2 degree end up with better jobs than their ethnic minority peers who achieve a 1st . It’s not just class – indirect discrimination based on race and gender is just as prevalent. Further, the labour market often unduly rewards things that have very little to do with the ability to do a job well – accent, dress, self-presentation. In the podcast, Jo Littler, a reader in sociology at City University of London and Sam Friedman, Sociology Professor at LSE, discuss potential solutions. They both support the idea of abolishing private schools altogether but recommend small steps first – ban unpaid internships, and introduce free childcare and a more transparent admissions process.
Why does this matter? The class ceiling is the new glass ceiling – with social mobility stagnant since 2014 in the UK, key talent might be missed out. Whilst this is unlikely to have a noticeable impact anytime soon, we could see this issue begin to affect output and innovation if it isn’t politically addressed. Theresa May’s statement that Britain must become ‘the world’s greatest meritocracy’ seems unrealistic for now.
(The commentary contained in the above article does not constitute an offer or a solicitation, or a recommendation to implement or liquidate an investment or to carry out any other transaction. It should not be used as a basis for any investment decision or other decision. Any investment decision should be based on appropriate professional advice specific to your needs.)