Unthanksgiving
Anyone who still gives thanks for the classic American dream of rising from poverty to riches is not facing reality. Research has documented that only 6 percent of children born to parents with family income in the bottom fifth of the income spectrum move to the top fifth. The rags to riches story is garbage. Meanwhile, an amazing 42 percent of children born into that lowest fraction remain stuck in that lowly economic class, not even making into middle class status. At the other end, four out of 10 children born to rich parents stay rich.
Looking more generally at economic mobility this is reality: 34 percent of Americans make more than their parents' family income and move up at least one rung on the economic ladder. But more experience downward mobility, with 38 percent moving down the economic ladder.
What about black Americans?
Only 31 percent of black children born to middle-income parents make more than their parents‟ family income, compared to 68 percent of white children. Almost half (45 percent) of black children whose parents were solidly middle income end up falling to the bottom of the income distribution, compared to only 16 percent of white children.
For every parental income group, white children are more likely to move ahead of their parents' economic rank while black children are more likely to fall behind.
What about women versus men?
47 percent of daughters born to parents on the bottom rung stay on the bottom rung, compared to 35 percent of sons.
And here is the really bad news for American men: In contrast to data on family income, the personal income of men has been almost perfectly flat for the past three decades. The better incomes of working women have caused apparent increases in family or household incomes.
Inflation-adjusted median income for men ages 30-39 actually fell by 12 percent between 1974 and 2004, from $40,000 a year to about $35,000 a year in constant dollars.
When it comes to America's democracy and economy, keep dreaming.
[Joel S. Hirschhorn can be reached through www.delusionaldemocracy.com.]
Published by Joel Hirschhorn
Author: Delusional Democracy, Prosperity Without Pollution & Sprawl Kills. Senior official Congressional Office of Technology Assessment & National Governors Assn; full prof Univ. of Wisc. Publishing regul... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentSpider Lady say you got a good article. The crap they feed me about the Portestant work ethic is funnier that "Any American can grow up and be president." But then don't get em started on the "Dick and Jane" stuff about Mr. Officer Friendly...LOL
Wow! according to the statistics quoted 6 out of 10 children born of rich parents fail to maintain their status - perhaps this as well as the other statistics say something about inherited or learned drive and determination. Neither of my parents graduated from high school. I have a graduate degree as does my daughter and my son at age 24 is earning more than my best years. I guess I'm glad I never made it to the rich category as the chances of economic success for my children would have been diminished.
Jim, it's not just "doom and gloom" to spot deepening trends that are bad for America, and to ask that they be addressed. Hard work can still get you ahead, but it's getting "harder" for most, while getting "ahead" for the priveleged classes is getting easier.
Recently I looked at demographics at the Census Bureau and they had females having moved up a bit on the economic scale, with 'white' men staying the same. Asian-Americans have the greatest number of wealthy, with black men being just below Latinos. Within my family structure I would say most have moved up a notch in the economic brackets, but the next generation has little hopes of moving higher on the ladder. The candy bar that cost 5 cents in 1957 now usually costs a dollar.
BTW, my Mom dropped out of high school in the 10th grade, never even got a GED, yet STILL managed to rise from an entry level telephone operator position to that of Chief Operator, the manager of an office with 240 operators. She accomplished this rise in 13 years, from 1957, to her promotion to Chief Operator in 1970, a position she enjoyed until her 1989 retirement. I better call her an tell her what an abject failure she was, at least according to you.
Well, I guess we'll just throw in the towel and give up. Why bother, right? Funny too - I thought I was doing okay. Sorry, but my Mom was born dirt poor, had me at 20 years old after my father left her when she was pregnant, and she didn't even have a job, but she lifted her butt up and worked, and without re-marrying she rose thru the income levels and retired from AT&T as an executive. Guess I'll call her and let her know she did the impossible, at least according to you. Peeps like you help perpetutate the cycle. Make sure you keep tellin' folks they CAN'T MAKE IT; me and mine will be busy trying to actually do something besides report the doom and gloom you obviously are so enamoured with.
good points, and well put.