INTERGENERATIONAL MOBILITY AND CLASS THEORY - A REPLY TO KINGSTON

Kingston (1996) is incorrect to assert class theory assumes intergener ational immobility. Class theory simply assumes some class structural mechanisms but such mechanisms do not presuppose immobility. Relative mobility patterns illustrate one fundamental way that class mechanisms operate and class-structured relative mobility patterns coexist along side substantial absolute mobility for good reason. Kingston's prefere nce for absolute over relative mobility is not the basis for sustained scientific research into mobility regimes.