People from elite backgrounds increasingly dominate academia, data shows

The article discusses how people from elite backgrounds are increasingly dominating academia, particularly in the field of economics. In 1970, only one in five U.S.-born PhD graduates in economics had a parent with a graduate degree, but now two-thirds do. This trend is also evident in other fields and for foreign-born students. The dominance of elite backgrounds can be attributed to various factors such as hidden curriculum requirements, social networks determining acceptance at top schools, and job market and academic publishing barriers. Mentoring initiatives like FRAME are being launched to support first-generation students navigating academia.