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I find it weird that "only" 20% of the middle fifth will rise into the top fifth. Isn't 20% equal to one fifth and is pretty much expected? It feels like the Di
by tdb7893 10y ago
I find it weird that "only" 20% of the middle fifth will rise into the top fifth. Isn't 20% equal to one fifth and is pretty much expected? It feels like the Dilbert cartoon of the boss complaining that 40% of sick days being on Mondays and Fridays. I think the article is right overall but I'm wondering if anyone has some insight into why 20% is an unexpected number in the data.
- codemac 10y agoThe 20% rising up out of the middle fifth and the middle fifth being a fifth of total population are unrelated numbers. It's coincidence that they are the same number.
- adevine 10y agoBut the point is that, if where you ended up was completely unrelated to where you started, you would expect 20% of the middle fifth to end up at the bottom, 20% the 2nd lowest fifth, 20% the middle, 20% the 2nd highest, and 20% the highest. The article seems to be arguing there is NOT a lot of social mobility, but if so you wouldn't expect more than 20% of the middle fifth to end up in the top.
- tdb7893 10y agoThat makes sense. With the top fifth being 20% of the population isn't 20% going into the top fifth what would be expected?