Socioeconomic homogeneity in acquaintance networks: Occupational prestige, education, and intergenerational mobility.

Autor/inn/en	Espinosa-Rada, Alejandro; Bargsted, Matías; Ortiz Ruiz, Francisca
Titel	Socioeconomic homogeneity in acquaintance networks: Occupational prestige, education, and intergenerational mobility. Gefälligkeitsübersetzung: Sozioökonomische Homogenität in Bekanntennetzwerken: Berufsprestige, Bildung und intergenerationelle Mobilität.
Quelle	In: Social networks, (2026) 86, S. 342-353 PDF als Volltext Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0378-8733
DOI	10.1016/j.socnet.2026.04.012
Schlagwörter	Bildungsmobilität; Bildungsniveau; Intergenerationsmobilität; Soziale Herkunft; Segregation; Soziales Netzwerk; Sozialstruktur; Sozioökonomischer Faktor; Berufsprestige; Berufsstruktur; Erwerbstätiger; Auswirkung; Chile
Abstract	"This study examines the socioeconomic homogeneity of acquaintance networks. Acquaintance networks, as proxies for individuals' broader social circles, are structured by socioeconomic backgrounds and occupational stratification. We hypothesize that individuals are more likely to form ties with others in occupations of similar socioeconomic prestige. We further expect higher levels of education to be associated with greater network homogeneity, and we investigate whether intergenerational educational mobility fosters more heterogeneous networks compared to stable educational trajectories. Drawing on Aggregated Relational Data (ARD), we introduce a multilevel statistical measurement model that quantifies the number of acquaintances people have in different occupations as a function of their difference in prestige with those occupations and covariates. The model advances existing approaches by accounting for both occupational group size and respondents' overall number of acquaintances. Using the ELSOC survey in Chile, we assess the degree of socioeconomic homogeneity in acquaintance networks among workers. Our findings show that occupationally based socioeconomic background strongly structures patterns of acquaintance, with individuals forming ties to others of similar socioeconomic status. At the same time, higher levels of education are associated with larger and more socioeconomically diverse networks, suggesting that education can mitigate these constraints. By contrast, intergenerational educational mobility plays a more limited role in shaping network heterogeneity. By showing that occupational stratification structures social ties while education can partially offset these constraints, the study contributes to broader debates on inequality, mobility, and the reproduction of social boundaries." The study refers to the period 2016-2018 (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.).
Erfasst von	Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Nürnberg
Update	2026/4