economic mobility
Income bracket shifting
Economic mobility is the ability of individuals or families to move between income levels or social classes over time.
Upward mobility means rising from lower to higher economic status; downward mobility is the reverse.
The term often appears in discussions of opportunity and inequality: The American Dream promises economic mobility, but data suggests it has declined.
Intergenerational mobility measures whether children end up better or worse off than their parents.
Professional upward mobility
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- income growthIncrease in earnings
- social ladderHierarchy of societal status
- climbingAscending by physical effort
success · self-made · meritocracy · achievement · progress · skill development · rags-to-riches · American Dream
Employment availability collectively
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- internshipsSupervised workplace learning periods
- entrepreneurshipCreating and managing ventures
grants · fellowships · recruitment · job fairs · career pathways · connections · sponsorship · referrals
Funds awarded for study
- vocational trainingJob-skill education
- universityHigher education institution
- tuitionPayment for instruction
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
graduation · degree · literacy · STEM · trade school · community college · financial aid · credentialing
Prolonged economic decline
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- povertySevere lack of resources
- declineDecrease or refuse
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
debt · foreclosure · layoff · downsizing · wage loss · falling behind · financial ruin · job loss
Property received from ancestors
- assetsOwned items of value
- capitalWealth used for investment
- investmentDeploying capital for returns
- real estateLand and its structures
trust fund · net worth · property · savings · portfolio · endowment · estate · generational wealth
Unjust differential treatment
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- glass ceilingUnacknowledged limit blocking advancement
- redliningRefusing loans by neighborhood
- segregationForced separation by group
racism · classism · poverty trap · digital divide · lack of access · wage stagnation · healthcare costs · childcare costs
career advancement
Professional upward mobility
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- income growthIncrease in earnings
- social ladderHierarchy of societal status
climbing · success · self-made · meritocracy · achievement · progress · skill development · rags-to-riches · American Dream · breakthrough
job market
Employment availability collectively
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- internshipsSupervised workplace learning periods
entrepreneurship · grants · fellowships · recruitment · job fairs · career pathways · connections · sponsorship · referrals · social capital
scholarships
Funds awarded for study
- vocational trainingJob-skill education
- universityHigher education institution
- tuitionPayment for instruction
apprenticeship · graduation · degree · literacy · STEM · trade school · community college · financial aid · credentialing · job training
recession
Prolonged economic decline
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- povertySevere lack of resources
- declineDecrease or refuse
bankruptcy · debt · foreclosure · layoff · downsizing · wage loss · falling behind · financial ruin · job loss · dispossession
inheritance
Property received from ancestors
- assetsOwned items of value
- capitalWealth used for investment
- investmentDeploying capital for returns
real estate · trust fund · net worth · property · savings · portfolio · endowment · estate · generational wealth · old money
discrimination
Unjust differential treatment
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- glass ceilingUnacknowledged limit blocking advancement
- redliningRefusing loans by neighborhood
segregation · racism · classism · poverty trap · digital divide · lack of access · wage stagnation · healthcare costs · childcare costs · student debt
- Economic Fairnessequal pay, fair wages, fair pay, pay equity, wage gap
- economic inequalityincome inequality, wealth gap, income gap, pay gap, wage gap
- vertical mobilitysocial climbing, moving up, moving down
- employmentjob, jobs, career, careers, interview
- living conditionshousing, income, employment, healthcare access, education access
- mobilitywalking, running, driving, cycling, flying
economic mobilityeconomic stagnation
Persistent lack of growth
stagnation · wage stagnation · caste system · static · stuck
economic mobilitycaste system
Hereditary class division
social stratification · poverty trap · aristocracy · feudalism · glass ceiling
economy, mobile, economic, mobility, economical, economics, economize, economist, economizing