This study investigates changes in the potential for social mobility through education, set against the backdrop of intensifying challenges such as population decline and increasing social inequality, exacerbated by technological advancements like digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI). Given the critical societal issues in Korea—such as opportunity inequality, low birth rates, and population extinction—that may be linked to a decline in upward social mobility, empirically measuring these changes across time and countries offers valuable policy implications.
To achieve this, the research utilizes OECD’s PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) data from 2006 to 2022 to analyze social mobility trends across major countries, aiming to compare and evaluate shifts in upward and downward mobility both over time and across national contexts. The study focuses on the relationship between parents' socio-economic backgrounds and children's academic achievements. It employs a multifaceted approach by utilizing the New Resiliency Ratio to measure upward mobility, the Glass Floor Ratio to capture downward mobility, and the Rags-to-Riches (RRI) Opportunity Inequality Index to measure educational inequality. These indices provide a comprehensive framework to assess the dynamics of social mobility.
The analysis spans key countries such as Korea, the United States, Japan, and Finland, offering insights into educational equity and social mobility. The findings inform future directions for education policy aimed at addressing social inequality. However, it is important to note that since the study is based on the academic achievements of 15-year-old students, it measures the potential for social mobility rather than fully realized social mobility in the labor market.