Unpacking the Mechanisms Linking Social Mix, Social Mixing, Social Mobility, and Social Cohesion

Project's Details

Title: Unpacking the Mechanisms Linking Social Mix, Social Mixing, Social Mobility, and Social Cohesion

Amount: S$673,172

PI: Associate Professor Vincent Chua, Department of Sociology & Anthropology and Steering Committee Member of CFPR, NUS

Co-PI(s): Prof Elaine Lynn-Ee Ho, Provost's Chair Professor at the Department of Geography, Vice-Dean of Research for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), Research Leader of the Migration and Mobilities Cluster at the Asia Research Institute (ARI); Assistant Professor Shannon Ang, Sociology, Deputy Director of the Centre for the Study of Social Inequality (CSSI), NTU; Assistant Professor Tan Shin Bin, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS

Project duration: 20 April 2026 to 31 March 2028

Abstract

This study examines the role of social capital in Singapore, with a specific focus on class social mixing and its potential to strengthen Singaporean identity. In an era marked by heightened competition, socioeconomic inequality, fragmentation, and global uncertainty, understanding the sources and consequences of class-based interactions is crucial. However, social mixing is inherently complex; it is not merely a matter of contact, but fundamentally entails overcoming deep-seated differences and entrenched socioeconomic hierarchies. The project will analyse two waves of survey data (2026 and 2027) tracking 3,000 Singapore citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs), complemented by qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs) specifically designed to unpack the micro-level dynamics and interpersonal tensions of bridging class divides. The findings offer a nuanced framework for understanding how structured social integration can overcome class barriers and reinforce a shared, resilient national identity.