UK (Commonwealth Union) – Access to better resources and opportunities is common for those residing in more affluents areas in comparison to individuals residing in less affluent areas, which is a common factor across the world, but its level may vary.
A new study conducted by the University of York has demonstrated that class background is still an obstacle to the availability of opportunities in later life, even among those who are successful. The study focused on over 8,000 professionals and higher-level managers, where it was revealed that those from a wealthy background had a greater chance of moving around the UK, and settling in some of the most high-end locations, compared to individuals who reside in working-class locations.
The study was conducted with a longitudinal analysis of census data focusing on those born between 1965 and 1981 who were higher managerial individuals and professionals by 30 to 36 years old.
“We explored whether people had moved home over a distance of 28km from when they were aged 10 to 16, considered the occupations of their parents, how often they moved, and the level of affluence of the area they moved to” said the University of York’s Dr Daniel McArthur of the Department of Education. He further indicated that roughly 60% of the individuals with higher managerial and professional parents made at least a single long-distance move, compared to individuals whose parents were in more ‘routine’ jobs, where only 30% had shifted.
Dr McArthur also stated that higher managers and professionals had a greater chance to reside in affluent areas as children compared to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The study recommended that policymakers be aware of the barriers blocking the upwardly mobile shifting to some of the UKs most economically dynamic locations that may impact not just long-term inequalities, but also innovation and productivity, as specific locations of the UK will be left out from the skills and talents of people who cannot reside there.
