Cultural capital, network resources, and occupational attainment: a panel study on the intragenerational conversion of cultural resources

Abstract Adding to a growing body of research, this study examines the intragenerational conversion of cultural capital into occupational attainment. More specifically, we argue that cultural and economic network resources constitute an important—yet understudied—explanation for why individuals’ cultural capital yields returns in the labour market. To test our expectations, we collected unique panel data in the Netherlands with information on individuals’ cultural capital (i.e. highbrow participation), offline core, and extended networks, and occupational outcomes. In line with theoretical notions of communicating cultural match, signalling competencies, and enhancing emotional returns, our results show that cultural capital is positively associated with a higher overall occupational position. Besides, individuals’ access to network resources largely explains the association between cultural capital and a higher occupational position. Interestingly, cultural resources in the extended network play a more important role than economic network resources in the conversion of cultural capital into a higher cultural occupational position. Conversely, economic core network resources are more important than cultural core network resources in the conversion of cultural capital into a higher economic occupational position. Our study thus provides strong support for the idea that the conversion of cultural capital into occupational returns, via social capital, is field-specific.