Sociologist Dr. Thomas Lee argues that social mobility has declined significantly in the United States over the past 50 years.
6
readingWhich demographic data would best support Lee's decline claim?
A
Income inequality has increased
B
Education costs have risen
C
For children born in 1940, 90% earned more than their parents; for children born in 1980, only 50% did—a 40-percentage-point decline in upward mobility
D
Home ownership rates fluctuate
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. Direct generational comparison (90%→50%) proves mobility decline.
💡 Strategy: Mobility claims need parent-child income comparisons across cohorts.