There are several merit limits that strain the ability to move within social classes. Merit meaning attained with hard work. These merits are the merit of IQ, Talent, Work Ethic, Ambitious, and Moral fiber. The IQ limit is one that insures that only persons with above average intelligence will gain social mobility. You must use your IQ to recognize your talent and put yourself into an area in which your talents can be utilized. With utilization of your determined talent you must possess a strong work ethic to be able to go above and beyond what's expected to distinguish yourself. Once you are able to distinguish yourself from those around you , to gain movement, you must be ambitious and not hinder yourself by being interested n staying where you are. You will have to make sacrifices to get to your goal, and have the moral fiber to not burn the bridges you built on your way up, because you don't know if you"ll have to travel the same bridges on your way down.
Non merit limits are those limits given to you at birth. For example gaining an inheritance would allow a person a staggered star in their initial social placement. At the time of birth that person could already be at a point where it would take a person born into poverty a lifetime to achieve. With the gaining of an inheritance this individual would have the opportunity to not work and upon finishing school gain a great position in a company just by knowing the right people, know as a sponsorship. Through the Bureaucratization of the workplace the appeal of self-employment has declined, Big Business is impeding on social mobility, starting one's own business is high risk low yield. Discrimination is another non-merit limit that impedes social mobility. Women generally make 30% lower than men as do minorities. The demography of the work population also slows mobility, the fact that there simply isn't enough room at the top for everyone.