Reality and expectations : social mobility of the Macao middle classes

Social class generally refers to a social group subject to similar socio-economic conditions and circumstances, and possessing similar resources, within a society (Grabb 1984; DiPrete 2002). Social stratification along class lines is a typical feature of modern societies because individuals differ in family background, ability, luck and diligence. As long as such stratification does not lead to class polarization (where the population is concentrated in the bottom and top strata with a thin, weak middle stratum), and as long as mobility between classes is maintained, members of the under-privileged classes will not find their opportunities for upward mobility suppressed simply due to their class position. Then, the existence of class stratification would not necessarily constitute a serious social problem. Theoretically, the fewer opportunities the under-privileged classes have for upward mobility, the more serious will be the conflicts within a society. As the middle class is regarded as the cornerstone of developed countries, creating a large middle class is often seen as an effective way for a government to relieve social inequalities, maintain social order, and strengthen social confidence. For the broad mass of people, joining the middle class is taken as a symbol of individual success (Tilkidjiev 2005; Wheary et al. 2007: 1).