Sam Friedman

Sam Friedman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). His research focuses on social mobility, social class, elites, and cultural distinction. He co-authored the influential book Born to Rule, examining the transformation of the British elite over 120 years using biographical data and interviews. Friedman also explores the 'class ceiling' in professional and managerial occupations, revealing persistent class-based pay disparities.

His work bridges sociology with cultural analysis, addressing how elites construct their identities and legitimize their status through 'ordinary' narratives. He directs the MSc in Inequalities and Social Science at LSE and teaches courses on class, culture, and meritocracy. Friedman has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the 2018 European Academy of Sociology Best Article Award and the 2016 ASA Inequality, Poverty and Mobility Section Best Article Award.

Notable contributions include analyzing the role of private schools in elite recruitment, the gendered experiences of upward mobility, and the impact of inherited wealth ('the bank of mum and dad'). His interdisciplinary approach combines historical analysis, statistical data, and ethnographic insights to understand systemic social inequalities.