This article offers a defence of the methods and findings of what some critics have referred to as the 'Nuffield school of class analysis'. In particular, we respond to the critique mounted by Hellevik and Ringen, whose most recent publication appeared in an earlier volume of this journal. We argue that these authors adopt an arbitrary and essentialist view of what constitutes inequality, and have either misunderstood or misrepresented the aims and methodology of the research programme they deride. Ringen, moreover, explicitly concedes all of its major substantive results.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Atkinson, A.B.1972. On the Measurement of InequalityJournal of Economic Theory, 2, 244-263.
2.
Breen, R. & Goldthorpe, J.H.1997. Explaining Educational Differentials: Towards a Formal Rational Action TheoryRationality and Society, 9, 275-305.
3.
Breen, R. & Goldthorpe, J.H.1999. Class Inequality and Meritocracy: A Critique of Saunders and an Alternative AnalysisBritish Journal of Sociology, 50, 1-27.
4.
Crompton, R.1996. The Fragmentation of Class AnalysisBritish Journal of Sociology, 47, 56-67.
5.
Dunleavy, P.1987. Class Dealignment Revisited: Why Odds Ratios Give Odd ResultsWest European Politics, 10, 400-419.
6.
Erikson, R.1990. Politics and Class Mobility: Does Politics Influence Rates of Social Mobility? In I. Persson (ed.), Generating Equality in the Welfare State: The Swedish Experience , pp. 247-265. Oslo: Norwegian University Press.
7.
Erikson, R. & Goldthorpe, J.H.1992. The Constant FluxOxford: Clarendon Press.
8.
Goldthorpe, J.H.1996. Class Analysis and the Reorientation of Class Theory: The Case of Persisting Class Differentials in Educational AttainmentBritish Journal of Sociology, 47, 481-505.
9.
Goldthorpe, J.H., Llewellyn, C. & Payne, C.1980. Social Mobility and Class Structure in Modern BritainOxford: Clarendon Press.
10.
Goldthorpe, J.H., Llewellyn, C. & Payne, C.1987. Social Mobility and Class Structure in Modern Britain (2nd ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press.
11.
Heath, A. & Clifford, P.1996. Class Inequalities and Educational Reform in Twentieth-Century Britain In D. J. Lee & B. S. Turner (eds.), Conflicts About Class, pp. 209-224. London: Longman.
12.
Hellevik, O.1997. Class Inequality and Egalitarian ReformActa Sociologica, 40, 377-397.
13.
Marshall, G., Rose, D., Newby, H. & Vogler, C.1988. Social Class m Modern BritainLondon : Hutchinson.
14.
Marshall, G. & Swift, A.1993. Social Class and Social JusticeBritish Journal of Sociology, 44, 187-211.
15.
Marshall, G. & Swift, A.1996. Merit and Mobility: A Reply to Peter SaundersSociology, 30, 375-386.
16.
Marshall, G., Swift, A. & Roberts, S.1997. Against the Odds?Oxford: Clarendon Press.
17.
Morris, L. & Scott, J.1996. The Attenuation of Class AnalysisBritish Journal of Sociology, 47, 45-55.
18.
Noble, T.1995. Occupational Mobility and Social Change in BritainHitotsubashi Journal of Social Studies, 27, 65-90.
19.
Phelps Brown, H.1988. Egalitarianism and the Generation of InequalityOxford: Clarendon Press.
20.
Ringen, S.1997. Citizens, Families and ReformOxford : Clarendon Press.
21.
Ringen, S.1998. The Great British MythTimes Literary Supplement, 23 January, pp. 3-4.
22.
Saunders, P.1990. Social Class and StratificationLondon : Routledge.
23.
Saunders, P.1995. Might Britain Be a Meritocracy?Sociology , 29, 23-41.
24.
Saunders, P.1996. Unequal But Fair?London: Institute of Economic Affairs.
25.
Shavit, Y. & Blossfeld, H.-P.1993. Persistent InequalityBoulder, CO: Westview Press.
26.
Swift, A. & Marshall, G., 1997. Meritocratic Equality of Opportunity: Economic Efficiency, Social Justice, or Both?Policy Studies , 18, 35-48.
