We propose an alternative method for measuring intergenerational mobility. Traditional methods based on panel data provide measurements that are scarce, difficult to compare across countries and almost impossible to get across time. In particular this means that we do not know how intergenerational mobility is correlated with growth, income or the degree of inequality. Our proposal is to measure the informative content of surnames in one census. The more information does the surname have on the income of an individual, the more important is her background in determining her outcomes; and thus, the less mobility there is. The reason is that surnames inform on family relationships because the distribution of surnames is necessarily very skewed. A large percentage of the population is bound to have a very unfrequent surname. For them the partition generated by surnames is very informative on family linkages. First, we develop a model whose endogenous variable is the joint distribution of surnames and income. There we explore the relationship between mobility and the informative content of surnames. We allow for assortative mating to be a determinant of both. Then, we use our methodology to show that in large Spanish region the informative content of surnames is large and consistent with the model. We also show that it has increased over time, indicating a substantial drop in the degree of mobility. Finally, using the peculiarities of the Spanish surname convention we show that the degree of assortative mating has also increased over time, in such a manner that might explain the decrease in mobility observed. Our method allows us to provide measures of mobility comparable across time. It should also allow us to study other issues related to inheritance.
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version under "Related research" (further below) or search for a different version of it.
Publisher Info
Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number
6316.
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
Gary S. Becker & Nigel Tomes, 1994.
"X. Human Capital and the Rise and Fall of Families,"
NBER Chapters,
in: Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education (3rd Edition), pages 257-298
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!]
Cited by: (explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)
John Hassler & José Rodríguez Mora & Joseph Zeira, 2007.
"Inequality and mobility,"
Journal of Economic Growth,
Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 235-259, September.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
Other versions:
Hassler, John & Rodríguez Mora, José Vicente & Zeira, Joseph, 2000.
"Inequality and Mobility,"
CEPR Discussion Papers
2497, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
John Hassler & Jose V. Rodriguez Mora & Joseph Zeira, 2007.
"Inequality and Mobility,"
ESE Discussion Papers
165, Edinburgh School of Economics, University of Edinburgh.
[Downloadable!]
Hassler, John & Rodriguez Mora, Jose V. & Zeira, Joseph, 2002.
"Inequality and Mobility,"
Working Paper Series
rwp02-009, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
[Downloadable!]