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And in addition to the rule of law, the US gives it citizens the opportunity to rise above their situation (some would use the term "class"). There are few coun

And in addition to the rule of law, the US gives it citizens the opportunity to rise above their situation (some would use the term "class"). There are few countries where this is the case. In most countries, the state determines your fate.

deleted 9y ago
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collyw 9y ago
Most countries don't allow this? You need to give some evidence of that. European countries have free markets and most have better social mobility than the US. If you check the link in my original post you will see the US has relatively low social mobility for a developed nation. Your comment reminds me of the attitude described in this sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oyKVAjISmI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oyKVAjISmI
- pm90 9y ago
  Do they really? The compensation for Software Engineers at least seems to be ridiculously low compared to those in the US, moreso in SFBA. I get that the social safety nets are very good but I don’t agree that social mobility is any easier in Europe.
  - thesauri 9y ago
    Salary levels don't say anything about social mobility. Social mobility is about how easy it is to climb to highly paying jobs such as software engineering for people from underprivileged backgrounds. There seems to be evidence that Americans overestimate social mobility in the US while Europeans underestimate social mobility in European countries. In practice, European countries also perform better in that regard. https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2018/02/daily-chart-9 https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2018/02/daily-...
- intrasight 9y ago
  My European friends have indicated that kids are "tracked" from grade school, and your career is basically determined by your scores in 6th grade. In America you can flunk out of high school and still choose to pursue your chosen career. I have many friends who did just that, and have become very successful in their careers.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

collyw 9y ago

Most countries don't allow this? You need to give some evidence of that. European countries have free markets and most have better social mobility than the US. If you check the link in my original post you will see the US has relatively low social mobility for a developed nation. Your comment reminds me of the attitude described in this sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oyKVAjISmI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oyKVAjISmI

pm90 9y ago
Do they really? The compensation for Software Engineers at least seems to be ridiculously low compared to those in the US, moreso in SFBA. I get that the social safety nets are very good but I don’t agree that social mobility is any easier in Europe.
- thesauri 9y ago
  Salary levels don't say anything about social mobility. Social mobility is about how easy it is to climb to highly paying jobs such as software engineering for people from underprivileged backgrounds. There seems to be evidence that Americans overestimate social mobility in the US while Europeans underestimate social mobility in European countries. In practice, European countries also perform better in that regard. https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2018/02/daily-chart-9 https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2018/02/daily-...
intrasight 9y ago
My European friends have indicated that kids are "tracked" from grade school, and your career is basically determined by your scores in 6th grade. In America you can flunk out of high school and still choose to pursue your chosen career. I have many friends who did just that, and have become very successful in their careers.