Giving Compass' Take:

· Writing for Pacific Standard, Tom Jacobs explains how overconfidence in the upper- and middle-class people is often perceived as competence and capability by employers, limiting the potential for lower-class citizens to move up the social ladder.

· How can philanthropy support those who face more barriers? 

· Check out this research examining social mobility and opportunity in the United States.

America likes to think of itself as the land of opportunity—but these days, there's an excellent chance you'll be stuck in the social class you were born into for the rest of your life. Precisely why it's so hard to make that leap in status is a complicated question, but new research offers an intriguing clue.

A new study finds that people who occupy a higher place in the socio-economic hierarchy often believe, without evidence, that they are more capable than their lower-class counterparts. Crucially, this overconfidence can be misinterpreted by prospective employers to indicate higher competence, giving middle- and upper-class people a significant advantage in terms of hiring and, presumably, promotion.

"In the middle class, people are socialized to differentiate themselves from others, to express what they think and feel, and to confidently express their ideas and opinions, even when they lack accurate knowledge," lead author Peter Belmi of the University of Virginia said in announcing the findings.

"By contrast, working-class people are socialized to embrace the values of humility, authenticity, and knowing your place in the hierarchy," Belmi said. In a society that rewards brash go-getters, humility can be a real disadvantage.

Read the full article about social mobility by Tom Jacobs at Pacific Standard.