Hard work, privilege or luck? Exploring people’s views of what matters most to get
ahead in life
Understanding people’s beliefs of social mobility is key to designing and implementing
policy mixes that address structural disparities and garner broad public support.
Beliefs in social mobility may help strengthen the social contract; however, strongly
held views on the role of individual effort in determining success in life can also
contribute to diminishing support for policies designed to promote greater opportunity
for vulnerable populations and reduce inequality. Drawing on data from the Opportunities
module of the 2022 wave of the OECD Risks that Matter survey, this policy insights
investigates people’s views of the main determinants of social mobility in 27 OECD
countries. On average, 60% of respondents believe that hard work is essential or very
important in determining one’s social position. However, of this majority, only one-fifth
believe that working hard is the only key factor to success.
Published on November 28, 2023Also available in: French
In series:OECD Policy Insights on Well-being, Inclusion and Equal Opportunityview more titles