ABSTRACT
A central problem in research and theory about mobility by sociologists and historians is whether American society is becoming increasingly rigid or remaining relatively flexible. The very considerable literature on this problem can be translated into several sub-problems. Among many problems, distance and direction are what most writings on mobility are focused upon. A recent article by the historian Stephan Thernstrom exemplifies how these problems are discussed. Almost all of his discussion bears on upward mobility and downward mobility. Downward mobility has been far less attended to in the technical literature than upward mobility. Two issues which especially beg for analysis because often overlooked in research are voluntary moves downward, and the prevention of involuntary downward mobility. Two especially difficult problems are reflected in much of the technical and popular literature about upward mobility. The first is the existential disappointment of arriving where one dreamed of arriving and then being disappointed at not finding it all as it was supposed.
