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Mobility for All: Representative Intergenerational Mobility Estimates over the 20th Century

Author

Listed:
  • Elisa Jácome

    (Stanford University)

  • Ilyana Kuziemko

    (Princeton University)

  • Suresh Naidu

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

We present the first estimates of long-run trends in intergenerational relative mobility for samples that are representative of the full U.S.-born population. Harmonizing all surveys that ask about father's occupation and own family income, we develop a mobility measure that allows for the inclusion of non-whites and women for the 1910s–1970s birth cohorts. We show a robust increase in mobility between the 1910s and 1940s cohorts, about half of which is driven by absolute convergence in racial income gaps. We also find that excluding Black Americans, particularly Black women, considerably overstates mobility throughout the 20th century.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Jácome & Ilyana Kuziemko & Suresh Naidu, 2021. "Mobility for All: Representative Intergenerational Mobility Estimates over the 20th Century," Working Papers 302, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:cepsud:302
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Haeck, Catherine & Laliberté, Jean-William, 2023. "Careers and Intergenerational Income Mobility," IZA Discussion Papers 16273, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Luis Ángel Monroy-Gómez-Franco & Roberto Vélez Grajales & Gastón Yalonetzky, 2023. "Unequal Gradients: Sex, Skin Tone and Intergenerational Economic Mobility," Papers 2023_01, Centro de Estudios Espinosa Yglesias.
    4. Nancy Qian & Marco Tabellini, 2021. "Racial Discrimination and the Social Contract: Evidence from U.S. Army Enlistment during WWII," NBER Working Papers 29482, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Martha J. Bailey & Peter Z. Lin, 2024. "Marital Matching and Women’s Intergenerational Mobility in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century US," NBER Chapters, in: The Economic History of American Inequality: New Evidence and Perspectives, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mobility; minorities; racial income gaps;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H00 - Public Economics - - General - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • N3 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy

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