Explaining the Relationship Between Class Position and Political Preferences: A Long-Term Panel Analysis of Intra-Generational Class Mobility

Abstract Past findings on the connection between class position and political preferences are overwhelmingly derived from cross-sectional studies, which provided a limited basis for inferring causality. This study uses long-term panel data thousands of British respondents to measure impact intra-generational mobility across range identities preferences. Upward leads small increases in economic conservatism, but party choice, identity attitudes non-economic issues do not change. updating values is much smaller than differences classes. These results consistent with short-run effects operating primarily through self-interest mechanism. Beliefs that plausibly unconnected economics unaffected. The overall association identities, opinions therefore more likely be caused by early life experiences longer-term socialization immediate material interests associated jobs.