Gregory Clark

The Son Also Rises: Surnames and the History of Social Mobility

23:14 min
Economics, Sociology, History
384 pages, 2004

In this short, Gregory Clark challenges our understanding of social mobility. Are we truly living in a world where anyone can climb the ladder of success? Clark's research, spanning centuries and continents, reveals a startling truth: social status persists far longer than we thought. Using innovative surname analysis, he uncovers a universal law of mobility that defies conventional wisdom. Clark's work tackles the problem of misperceived social fluidity, offering a fresh perspective on why some families seem to maintain their status across generations. Clark's findings question long-held beliefs about opportunity and inheritance in our society, and have far-reaching implications for social policy and personal strategies. Gain a nuanced understanding of how family background shapes our lives, and discover why careful mate selection might be the key to influencing future generations' prospects.

Gregory Clark

Gregory Clark is a distinguished economic historian and professor who spent most of his career at the University of California, Davis and is now the Danish National Research Council professor of economics at the University of Southern Denmark. His research has made notable contributions to understanding long-term economic growth, social mobility, and the origins of the Industrial Revolution. Clark's work has questioned established theories about the historical differences in wealth between nations, leading to significant academic discussions. His ideas on how economic success passes between generations have been influential, causing many scholars to reexamine traditional explanations for global economic inequality.

Chapters

Social mobility is slower than commonly believed. Using surnames to track families reveals that status persists for 10-15 generations, suggesting genetics play a significant role in determining social outcomes.
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Cover of The Son Also Rises: Surnames and the History of Social Mobility