Radical with Amol Rajan Is Capitalism Holding Back Social Mobility? (Your Radical Questions with Joe Seddon)
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Feb 23, 2026 Joe Seddon, founder of Zero Gravity, builds tech to boost social mobility for talented young people from low-opportunity areas. He discusses how volunteering can accelerate skills. He debates whether capitalism helps or hinders mobility. He warns AI may trigger a rise in blue-collar status and explores why many young people are out of work.
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Capitalism's Twin Forces On Social Mobility
- Capitalism contains twin forces that pull social mobility in opposite directions.
- Wealth accumulation by elites preserves status while entrepreneurial creative-destruction can expand opportunity, and AI could amplify either force.
Who Gets To The Top Changes The System
- Who reaches top jobs matters because decision-makers shape institutions and norms.
- Joe argues prioritising elite entry (CEOs, ministers) changes the system more than only focusing on short-distance mobility.
Recruit Leaders From Working Class Backgrounds
- Change hiring and admissions criteria to recognise diverse signals of talent and avoid unconscious bias.
- Organisations should recruit hiring managers and leaders from working class backgrounds to spot implicit assumptions about merit.