The Impact of Sociodemographic Background, Cognitive Abilities, and Educational Attainment on Middle-Age Social Status: Results From a Longitudinal Study Over 40 Years

• In Event: Cross-National Studies in Meeting Challenges and Opportunities to Learn

Abstract

In this paper we present a longitudinal study that examines how the educational career and its interactions with family characteristics and childhood mental abilities affect social mobility (e.g., success on the job). The first wave of data collection started in 1968 when a random sample of over 2,800 Luxembourgish students, being at the end of primary school, provided detailed information on their mental abilities, personality traits, educational career, and family background. The data collection for the second wave of measurement lasted from November 2008 to August 2009. Our results show that the influence of socio-cognitive childhood characteristics on middle age SES is highly dependent on the specific societal background into which the career paths of persons are embedded.

Authors

• Romain Martin, University of Luxembourg

• Martin Brunner, University of Luxembourg

• Daniela Schalke, University of Luxembourg

• Magda Chmiel, University of Luxembourg

• Marius Wrulich, University of Luxembourg