Question

Which variable is the best predictor of one's own class position as an adult?

Answer 1

What class one belongs to is determined by the relations of production at work. If one merely sells one's physical labour ie is a wage slave then one is from the working class. If one sells one's ideas or owns a small business then one is from the petit bourgeosie. If one owns the means of production, then one will belong to the bourgeosie.

Answer 2

Possible predictor of one’s class position as an adult could be their socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status refers to a person’s position with regards to income, education and occupation determined by academic and work experience, and their social relations. Today, the factor of socioeconomic status highly reflects a person’s sense of achievement and fulfillment in life although discounting the significance of psychological and other factors such as awareness and self-actualization to determine a person’s status.