Recessions, Presuppositions, and Self-Reflections: Political Party Affiliation and Self-Determined Social Mobility

Presenter

Jane Li

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Mark Pachucki, Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C34, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 4 (C31-C40) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

This research seeks to investigate the impact of political ideology on individuals' beliefs about improving their standard of living, both before and after the 2008 financial crisis. In response to the question: "Does political ideology impact an individual's belief that they themselves can improve their (and their family’s) standard of living before and after the 2008 financial crisis?", using repeated cross-section data from the General Social Survey (GSS) from 2006 and 2010, an innovative instrumental variable regression approach is used to diminish biases arising from endogeneity. The instrument of self-determined political party identification allows this regression to assume that the ideological and non-political beliefs held by those surveyed in 2006 are comparable to those surveyed in 2010 (coming from entirely different samples), save for the 2008 recession. Findings reveal nuanced relationships between political ideology and personal beliefs about social and economic mobility. The study contributes to existing literature by bridging gaps in understanding how political ideology shapes individual perceptions of their own social and economic class mobility. Results indicate statistically significant associations, and comparisons before and after the 2008 financial crisis provides insights into how ideology impacts economic and social optimism. This research highlights the importance of considering individual beliefs within the broader socio-economic context. The study's implications extend to policy considerations and future research on the interplay between political ideology and economic perspectives, as well as value systems and major events.

Keywords

Socio- economic mobility, Political Orientation, American Dream, Quality of Life, Political Psychology

Research Area

Sociology and Anthropology

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