The Vehicle For Social Mobility

This morning I listened to a story on NPR Radio on a new movie about Beatrix Potter that is coming out. The movie interests me because my son’s room is decorated in a Peter Rabbit theme and, of course, we have a collection of her books. The part in the NPR story that caught my attention was a scene from the movie that they played where Beatrix is arguing with her mother about wanting to marry her editor who was of a lower class. Beatrix points out that they were social ladder climbers and should not put themselves too high above others who are “in trade”. The Potter’s were members of the merchant class. Putting some keywords together I Googled on “victorian merchant class”. I found this really interesting page that describes the merchant class (among other things) during this period of time in London. When I think in broad terms from a big picture perspective it appears to me that being a merchant has always been and most likely will continue to be the most effective way (apart from war and plunder) of gaining riches. In an effort to find a link to validate this I came across an interesting article by UCLA professor Deepak Lal. He points out that all through history merchants have been wealthy but not always respected. Additionally, he gives evidence that there may be a capitalist gene. In any case, it appears to me that the most definite way to financial success and social mobility is to acquire the skills needed for buying and selling. I think my absolute favorite book on sales is The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer. But, looking all through history to the Silk Road, to the emergence of the merchant class in Europe, to the rise of American capitalism, and now the emergence of China as an economic power one thing stands out. It is the people who travel to foreign lands to make deals and to buy and to sell and engage in trade that prosper. Globalism is a vehicle for wealth and social mobility if you wish to use it.

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