China is not in a 'social division' trap

Equal opportunities for all needed

Li Lulu, a professor of sociology, Renmin University of China / CHINA DAILY

There are two schools of thought on social mobility and, based on large sample surveys, both agree intergenerational mobility and short-distance mobility both are prevalent in China. One school, in fact, is more optimistic about upward social mobility.

Intergenerational mobility usually refers to social movement within or between different social divisions and occupations, with change occurring from one generation to the next, which can be roughly explained as children born into different families have different life chances and outcomes. And short-distance mobility can be understood as the mobility of individuals or families within or close to their original social status; for instance, an ordinary laborer is more likely to become a relatively well-paid worker, instead of dramatically turning into a billionaire.

Over the more than three decades since the launch of reform and opening-up, drastic changes have taken place in China, and social mobility－and the opportunities available to achieve it－remains higher than in most other economies. Despite that, the social mobility issue deserves attention, because many people still find it difficult to improve their social status.

Education can be an important tool to achieve upward social mobility. But education itself is becoming a source of social inequality that hinders social mobility, as only better-off families can afford to get their children high-quality education. As such China's policymakers need to enact more policies to create equal opportunities for all individuals.