Elite Mobility and Conversions of Different Forms of Capital: An Investigation of Patterns of Study Abroad amongst Elite Graduates from Peking University in China

This article extends Bourdieu’s convertibility of different forms capital to understand the patterns study abroad by elite graduates from Peking University, China. We draw upon empirical data a first-hand survey involving 1,417 University. The statistical analyses suggest pattern conversions political and economic cultural capital. Students leading cadres managerial families up prestige game actively pursuing opportunities, thus creating ‘hard currency’ which combines status at home abroad. locks out even without adequate resources. formation new reveals inherent inconsistencies between State’s meritocracy discourse its ambition competing for global talents. argue that recent pursuit talents effectively excludes working class agricultural providing an inclusive convincing meritocratic rationale.