Children from poorer families growing up amid a mix in income groups are likely to earn more as adultsFriendships that bridge economic divides are good for social mobility, a major study has found, with low-income children growing up where there is more mixing among income groups likely to earn an extra £5,100 a year as adults.The research, combining anonymised Facebook data covering 20 million adults in the UK with official data, points to the benefits of what the authors call more “economically connected communities”. Continue reading...
A study found that friendships bridging economic divides boost social mobility, with low-income children in economically connected areas earning £5,100 more annually as adults. Economic connectedness is a strong predictor of social mobility, second only to income. The UK is less economically segregated than the US, and cross-class friendships correlate with increased happiness and trust. The study is part of a larger project examining social capital and potential policies to enhance economic connectedness, such as larger schools.
