Social mobility and equal opportunity are key to thriving societies and economies. In the aftermath of the pandemic and in the context of increasing prices, calls for policymakers to address social and economic inequalities are intensifying. The recently launched Observatory on Social Mobility and Equal Opportunity not only brings together all OECD data points, but also displays the impact of different policies as well as the role of civil society and the private sector. This includes issues like differences in the distribution of poverty and wealth as well as as education, labour market policies and strategic regional investments.
At a joint hybrid event with DIW Berlin on 22 March 2023 we presented key data from the Observatory and discussed critical factors that influence social mobility and equal opportunity at various stages in life.
After an introduction by Romina Boarini (OECD), Marcel Fratzscher and Sandra Bohmann (DIW Berlin) discussed policy measures to promote social mobility and create equal opportunities with a specific focus on the challenges in Germany. The event was moderated by Nicola Brandt (OECD).
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Presentation:
Further reading:
OECD Observatory on Social Mobility and Equal Opportunity. OECD thematic page
Understanding social mobility. OECD thematic page
Bröckelt die Mittelschicht? Risiken und Chancen für mittlere Einkommensgruppen auf dem deutschen Arbeitsmarkt. OECD report in cooperation with Bertelsmann Stiftung by Valentina Consiglio, Christian Geppert, Sebastian Königs, Horacio Levy and Anna Vindics (1 December 2021)
Auswirkungen der Pandemiekrise auf die soziale Mobilität. Accompanying report to the sixth Armuts- und Reichtumsbericht der Bundesregierung by Bernhard Boockmann, Jascha Dräger, Philipp Kugler, Reinhard Pollak, Susanne Vögele (November 2020)
Equity in Education – Breaking Down Barriers to Social Mobility. OECD report (23 October 2018)
A Broken Social Elevator? How to Promote Social Mobility. OECD report (15 June 2018)
Soziale Mobilität in Deutschland: Durchlässigkeit hat sich in den letzten 30 Jahren kaum verändert. Press release by DIW Berlin (16 May 2018)
Sozialer Auf- und Abstieg: Angleichung bei Männern und Frauen. Report by Nicolas Legewie und Sandra Bohmann, DIW-Wochenbericht 20/2018
In It Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All. OECD report (21 May 2015)