Intra-Generational Social Class Mobility in Hungary Between 1992 and 2007-the Role of Self-Confidence

This paper analyses the intra-generational social class mobility in Hungary between 1992 and 2007 using Hungarian panel data. Social class position is used as an occupation based typology corrected with a social status index (containing income, wealth and housing dimension). Self-confidence reflected respondents’ problem solving skills, determination, efficacy and optimism. Mobilizing the gain of panel data self-confidence was set to be stable over time and was measured prior to social class position (in order to avoid endogenity). The results of multivariate logit models showed that self-confidence has an impact on working class and deprived class position in 2007, even after controlling prior class position measured in 1992. People with high self-confidence were less likely represented in the deprived position and were more likely to belong to the working class. The decomposition of total effects of self-confidence into direct and indirect effects (mediated by schooling) revealed that in the case of higher status, social classes (elite, upper middle class, and middle class) self-confidence also had a significant impact however this was mainly transmitted through the channel of education.