The hottest Social Mobility Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Intelligence and Social Mobility

Cremieux Recueil • 767 implied HN points • 11 Nov 25
🚌 Education Social Mobility
  1. Smart kids from poor families often do better than their parents, while less bright kids from rich families may struggle. This shows how intelligence and motivation can really change a person's social standing.
  2. A person's success and where they end up in life is often linked to their abilities and skills, rather than just where they started. Even within families, the smarter siblings tend to rise higher than their less gifted brothers and sisters.
  3. In many societies, being talented and hard-working truly pays off. While there are still some barriers to success, generally, meritocracy helps people improve their social class if they have the right skills.

An Open Elite?

Life and Letters • 579 implied HN points • 08 Jun 24
📚 Literature Social Mobility
  1. Making a living as a writer is really tough nowadays. A few bestsellers make a lot of money, while most authors earn very little.
  2. Social mobility, or the ability to move up the social ladder, has often been very limited in literary history. Many writers come from wealth rather than from lower classes.
  3. Throughout history, there have been moments when more diverse writers entered the literary scene. These periods saw new genres and styles of writing emerge, reflecting changes in society.

Who Keeps the Castle Clean?

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 6439 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Social Mobility
  1. Cultural appropriation discussions can reveal biases and assumptions about privilege and background. It's interesting how people can judge others based on where they think they come from, showing how stereotypes work in social settings.
  2. Many students at elite universities share similar backgrounds and can co-opt the struggles of marginalized communities. This idea highlights the complexities of privilege and how some people may navigate identity to fit into their social environment.
  3. Upward social mobility carries challenges as it can create a disconnect from one's original community. People often have to balance their new experiences with their roots, which can lead to feelings of guilt or not belonging.

22 Life Changing Insights, Social Mobility, The Times

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1685 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Mobility
  1. There are two classes in big cities: the wealthy and the workers. Many workers commute long distances just to keep the city running while struggling to afford living there.
  2. Luxury beliefs are ideas that help wealthy people show off their status but harm those less fortunate. They often come from people who are not directly affected by the issues they discuss.
  3. Intelligence doesn't always protect people from making foolish choices. Sometimes, being too focused on complex ideas can lead to missing simple, practical solutions.

Matt Gurney: Let's talk about what Canada being broken means

The Line • 2476 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Social Mobility
  1. Canada may be facing challenges and declining in certain areas, despite still being prosperous and stable compared to other countries.
  2. There are concerns about social mobility and the effectiveness of Canadian institutions, with signs pointing to potential long-term issues.
  3. While not completely ruined, Canada needs to address dysfunctional institutions and respond coherently to challenges to secure its future.
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Good Schools or Good Genes?

ideassleepfuriously • 943 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🚌 Education Social Mobility
  1. Debate on grammar schools vs. comprehensives is rooted in egalitarianism vs. meritocracy.
  2. Studies show grammar schools do not significantly improve student grades or social mobility compared to comprehensives.
  3. Grammar school debate reflects underlying issues of classism and societal perceptions of education.

Two-Parent Families Are More Important Than College

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 3920 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🚌 Education Social Mobility
  1. The focus on education as a sole solution for social mobility overlooks the importance of nurturing and support before age 18.
  2. It's crucial to gather data from communities directly rather than relying solely on self-proclaimed leaders to bridge gaps.
  3. Encouraging two-parent families is emphasized over college attainment, highlighting the significance of family structure.

Rich and Poor: How Things Work

Fake Noûs • 702 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Mobility
  1. The left and right have very different views on how wealth is created and who deserves it. Leftists see rich people as taking advantage of workers, while rightists believe everyone contributes to wealth creation.
  2. Many people can move up the economic ladder, and success isn't solely about one's environment or education. Personal talent and hard work play a big role.
  3. The rich provide essential resources that support society, while the poor often rely on the wealthy for stability. Instead of resenting the rich, the poor could recognize their contributions.

05/07/23 - Concubines: The Key to Dynastic China's Success

Moly’s Substack • 196 implied HN points • 08 May 23
💾 History Social Mobility
  1. China's historical system focused on providing peasants with hope of advancement, motivating them to fight for military honors and social mobility.
  2. A meritocratic approach in China ensured that power and wealth were not easily inherited, preventing the monopolization of success by nobles.
  3. The use of concubines in China served as a method to ensure competent heirs, prevent inbreeding, and stabilize society through non-exclusive relationships.

The SAT is not fairer than grades

Pershmail • 78 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🚌 Education Social Mobility
  1. For poorer students, high school grades are a better indicator of success than SAT scores.
  2. Standardized tests, like the SAT, can be biased towards wealthier students by reflecting their better access to resources and test preparation.
  3. There is a need for multiple pathways to success in education that do not solely rely on grades or standardized tests, providing second chances for students.

Education and Privilege Laundering

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 39 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🚌 Education Social Mobility
  1. Elite education institutions, from K-12 schools to universities, primarily serve to maintain and enhance social privileges of affluent families through a complex system of privilege laundering.
  2. The emphasis on elite education can often lead to a false perception of meritocracy, where affluent students receive favorable treatment and higher grades despite not necessarily outperforming their less privileged counterparts.
  3. Scandals like 'Varsity Blues' shed light on the reality behind the illusion of merit in elite college admissions, revealing the pervasive nature of privilege laundering in the American educational system.

Social mobility and GDP and some predictions on the possible effect of AI

Solresol • 1 HN point • 01 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Social Mobility
  1. Social mobility is a key indicator of societal fairness, showing whether individuals can move up or down in society based on opportunities, rather than birth.
  2. Wealthier countries tend to exhibit higher social mobility, providing more opportunities across all levels of society.
  3. The increasing role of AI in the workforce may lead to significant changes in social mobility: boosting GDP and potentially causing political upheaval as elites shift.

Rob Henderson's *Troubled*

In My Tribe • 1 HN point • 26 Feb 24
📚 Literature Social Mobility
  1. Upward social mobility should be a result of focusing on family, stability, and emotional well-being for children.
  2. Teen years can be a time of overwhelming pressure to fit in and be accepted by peers, leading to actions that may not be in one's best interest.
  3. Books like 'Manchild in the Promised Land' and 'Random Family' explore the challenges faced by troubled youth in different cultural contexts, highlighting the importance of fitting in and finding acceptance.