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Elite Universities and the Intergenerational Transmission of Human and Social Capital

Author

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  • Andrés Barrios-Fernández
  • Christopher Neilson
  • Seth Zimmerman

Abstract

Do elite colleges help talented students join the social elite or help incumbent elites retain their positions? We combine intergenerationally linked data from Chile with a regression discontinuity design to show that, looking across generations, elite colleges do both. Lower-status individuals who gain admission to elite college programs transform their children's social environment. Children become more likely to attend high-status private schools and colleges and to live near and befriend high-status peers. In contrast, academic achievement is unaffected. Simulations combining descriptive and quasi-experimental findings show that elite colleges tighten the link between social and human capital while decreasing intergenerational social mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrés Barrios-Fernández & Christopher Neilson & Seth Zimmerman, 2026. "Elite Universities and the Intergenerational Transmission of Human and Social Capital," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 116(6), pages 2120-2165, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:116:y:2026:i:6:p:2120-65
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20230802
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. de Vries, Sander & Ketel, Nadine & Lindeboom, Maarten, 2024. "From Parents' Cradle to Children's Career: Intergenerational Effects of Parental Investments," IZA Discussion Papers 17570, IZA Network @ LISER.
    3. Veronica Frisancho & Sebastian Gallegos & Constanza González, 2026. "Lasting Effects of Retaking College Admission Exams," Working Papers 2026-004, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    4. Adrienne M. Lucas & Patrick J. McEwan & David Torres Irribarra, 2025. "The Long-Run and Intergenerational Effects of Conditional Cash Transfers: Evidence from Chile’s Indigenous Grants," NBER Working Papers 33798, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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