Ecological Influence of the Middle-Income Population on Economic Mobility, Educational Outcomes, and Healthy Habits

1 online resource (52 pages) : PDF

2019

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

While researchers have identified many ecological conditions that impact life chances, there are many yet to be identified. This study identifies the size of the middle-income population as an ecological condition that is related to life outcomes. Specifically, this study explores the relationship between the size of the middle-income population and economic mobility, educational outcomes, and healthy habits. I use a social networks and social capital theoretical orientation to provide a potential explanation of the ecological influence of the middle-income population. Larger middle-income populations might increase ecological network connectivity, leading to greater ecological access to social capital that can improve life chances. Using commuting zone level data from Opportunity Insights, I find that a larger middle-income population is significantly related to higher upward mobility rates, higher test scores, and lower high school dropout rates. Robustness testing reveals a sensitive relationship between the size of the middle-income population and low-income smoking habits and low-income exercise habits. The findings suggest that the size of the middle-income population is an important ecological characteristic to consider for understanding social stratification.

masters theses

Sociology

M.A.

Economic Mobility
Education
Healthy Habits
Middle-Income
Social Capital
Social Networks

Sociology

Fitzgerald, Scott

Yavorsky, Jill
Cao, Yang

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2019.

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Reed_uncc_0694N_12122

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:2641