"Sharp Elbows": Do the Middle-Classes have Advantages in Public Service Provision and if so how?

Abstract

This paper summarises for a policy and practice audience the results of a review of the research evidence on middle class advantage in public services from the UK, US and Scandinavian countries published since 1980. The review was conducted by Annette Hastings from the University of Glasgow and Peter Matthews from Heriot-Watt University. Some sixty-five research papers were identified and subjected to systematic analysis in order to draw out key themes and evidence. The authors are grateful to the Arts and Humanities Research Council for funding this research and to a ‘virtual steering board' of policy practitioners for encouragement and guidance. All errors and omissions are the responsibility of the authors. A more detailed account of the research can be found by following links www.connectedcommunities.ac.uk.