A Study on the Relationship between Individual Capital and Expectations of Social Class Mobility

本研究基于2021年中国综合社会调查(CGSS)数据，探讨了数字资本在个体资本与社会阶层流动预期之间的中介作用。通过构建经济资本、文化资本和社会资本的测度指标体系，并引入数字资本作为新时代的关键变量，研究验证了三个核心假设：数字资本显著正向影响个体对未来10年社会阶层跃迁的预期；数字资本的积累受经济资本、文化资本和社会资本的正向驱动；数字资本作为中介变量，间接传递了其他三类资本对阶层流动预期的影响。实证结果表明，文化资本与社会资本对个体社会阶层提升预期的正向效应较强；在数字时代，传统资本形式会以数字资本作为中介变量对个体社会阶层提升的预期产生正向影响。研究揭示了数字时代资本积累的不平等性可能加剧阶层分化，并提出通过普及数字技能、提升信息可及性等政策建议以促进社会流动性。Using data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS), this study examines the role of digital capital in mediating the relationship between individual capital and expectations of social class mobility. The study verifies three core hypotheses by constructing a system of indicators to measure economic, cultural, and social capital, and by introducing digital capital as a key variable in the new era. First, digital capital significantly and positively affects individuals’ expectations of social class leapfrogging within the next ten years. Second, the accumulation of digital capital is positively driven by economic, cultural, and social capital. Third, digital capital indirectly transmits the effects of the other three types of capital on class mobility expectations. Empirical results show that cultural capital and social capital have a strong positive effect on individuals’ expectations of social class advancement. In the digital age, traditional capital can positively influence individuals' expectations of social class advancement through digital capital as a mediating variable. The study reveals that inequality in the accumulation of capital in the digital age may exacerbate class stratification and suggests policy recommendations to promote social mobility, such as popularizing digital skills and enhancing information accessibility.