>>22492069Key Trends and Insights
Overall Mobility: From 1971 to 2021, the share of adults in upper-income tiers rose from 14% to 21% (+7 points), lower-income tiers from 25% to 29% (+4 points), and middle-income tiers shrank from 61% to 51% (Pew, 2021). This suggests a net upward shift, but with polarization.
Generational Decline: Absolute mobility has halved since the 1940s, driven by wage stagnation and inequality. Middle-class children born in 1980 have a 45% chance of out-earning parents, down from 93% for those born in 1940 (Opportunity Insights, 2022).
Demographic Variations: Black and Hispanic Americans, and those in the South, show lower upward mobility and higher "stickiness" in lower classes. Education (e.g., college degrees) triples the odds of moving from poor to upper tiers (Pew, 2022).
Wealth vs. Income: Wealth mobility is even stickier—70% of the bottom wealth quintile stay there, and 66% of the top stay elite (Brookings, 2022).
Summary (Approximate Percentages)
Poor/Impoverished: 50%–60% stay, 30% move up, 10%–20% N/A (already bottom).
Working Class: 40%–45% stay, 40%–45% move up, 15%–20% move down.
Middle Class: 50% stay, 20%–25% move up, 25%–30% move down.
Upper Class: 60%–65% stay, 10%–15% move up, 15%–20% move down.
Elite: 70%+ stay, N/A (already top), 20%–25% move down.
