Which statement about U.S. social mobility is supported by the material?

• A. The United States has more social mobility than most other wealthy countries.
• B. The United States has about the same mobility as most other wealthy countries.
• C. The United States has less mobility than most other wealthy countries.
• D. Social mobility cannot be compared across countries.

Answer: (B)

Understanding cross-country mobility means looking at how easily people move up or down the income ladder compared with their parents, using measures like how much a child’s income percentile changes or how strongly parents’ income predicts children’s outcomes. The material presents findings that the United States’ mobility level is roughly on par with other wealthy nations. In practical terms, this means that, when you compare the U.S. to its peers, the overall ability to move up or down income strata is not clearly higher or lower on average. There are nuances and disparities within the country (such as racial or educational differences), but the broad cross-national pattern shown in the material is one of similarity rather than exceptional advantage or disadvantage. So the statement that the United States has about the same mobility as most other wealthy countries is the best-supported conclusion.