Why is it more difficult to climb to the socio-economic ladder in Europe than in North America?
In Norway, for example, if a mother is expecting a baby, and can’t work her job at the same time, she can receive up to a full year’s leave at about 80 percent of her normal pay and her companny is required to give her job back after the leave.Who pays?Government, of course! Tax!In contrast, in the US, Advocated had been fighting for years before the Family and Medical Leave Act (1993) was signed into bill, requires employers with more than 50 workers to allow up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for pregnancy, and other things.So reasonably, tax is much lower in the US, and in Europe, where most of the countries are built on social democracy, and collect higher tax to ensure equal outcome for everyone. The good thing of this is less poor people. The bad thing is less people get rich. Personally, I like living in the US, because the system here makes you works harder. Can’t imagine half of my earning goes toward paying tax.Source: By the People written by James A. Morone
How many people in the U.S.A. actually move up an economic class in their lifetime?
It's pretty high, if you're measuring by quintiles. About 40-50% in most of the published literature. It's stickier in the top and bottom quintiles, with the majority staying within a quintile. The middle moves around a lot. Most people only move up or down 1-2 quintiles, though.
Why is it so hard to climb up the economic ladder in the land of opportunity (USA)?
It is getting harder to get ahead and even get a decent raise dispite what the politicians are saying about the economy. Some of us haven’t gotten a raise in 10 years, despite being a professional and doing a good job. The only ones I know that are getting ahead are the engineer and computer science majors. Even in the healthcare field with all of the need, it is harder to get ahead.
Is it easier for a foreigner to move up the social/economic ladder in the USA than it is in Europe (or other advanced nation)? Is the USA really the land of opportunity?
You could look at examples like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who became governor of California.Wikipedia has a list of current and former politicians who where born outside the US.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li...Forbes has a list of immigrant billionaries -https://www.forbes.com/sites/den...You may want to compare the US to Canada or Australia. The UK also has some opportunities.>>> Talk to people who have lived in both Europe and the US, Canada etc.
What is it like to move up or down the social ladder?
Hmm. It’s the same to me.When I was in Highschool, I wasn’t physically gifted, didn’t go to parties(till my last two years), or wore the best clothes. I was just as average as the average kid was at our school. I found myself to be a little more “known” once some people discovered my ability with technology. Some didn’t know my name I was sometimes referred to as “ you’re the guy that can fix iPhone screens, right?” or “you’re the guy who jailbreak’s iPhones, right?”. I’d agree, and consistently tell them I did not want to do it. Sorry, I had more important ventures at the time. Trying to reach the last prestige on Call of Duty : Modern Warfare 3 was way more important than fixing someones iPhone screen who was incapable of taking care of it to begin with, or jailbreaking it.To be clear though, I was never rude. More often than not, I would actually help most and turn away few. My last two years I would say I was at least known by name, and definitely more known than I had been to start the first two years. I threw a party once, but it got busted because of all the noise. Plus! I lived on a dead-end I was asking for it! I still thank my dad to this day, because my mom would have ended my life!In the end, I still spoke to the same people on a day-to-day basis, and still do to this day. Most of us are all doing the same thing now just in different parts of the country, for some the world.
How common is it for friends to move up on the socio-economic ladder, and then to leave you behind and upgrade to newer cooler friends?
As far as I know, it is very common. I think it is our society to blame, success, success, success.....the goal is there and everyone is a runner, You get better if you have a good competition and develop...If you cannot compete...often, you are out.Very few people. due to their Christian or/ and family upbringing make a conscious attempt to stay in regular contact with the good old friends, even when they have remained in their quiet spots, happy with a normal position, and leaving the big endless competition.
How does education reduce poverty?
Higher education = better, high paying jobs If everyone had these better, high jobs, no one would be poor. If everyone wasn't poor, there would be no poverty.
Does the neighborhood you grew up in determine how far you move up the economic ladder?
Sort-of but only in the sense of being born in the top 10% or not. It isn’t ‘the other half’ anymore. And while your college education will be influenced by that, education is itself a bigger influence.Socioeconomic mobility in the United States - Wikipedia