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Patterns of Intergenerational Educational (Im)Mobility

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  • Enzo Valentini

    (Department of Political Science, Communication and International Relations, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy)

Abstract

Intergenerational education mobility is a key dimension of social mobility and explores the extent to which educational attainment is transmitted across generations within a society. The implications of low education mobility concern both equity (everyone should have the same opportunities) and efficiency (it would be good for the economy and society if the most gifted and deserving young people were to study and not the children of the already educated). The literature identifies several drivers that can influence the level of social mobility in general and education mobility specifically, including characteristics of educational systems, public spending, degree of urbanisation, informal frictions, and beliefs. This paper seeks to identify ‘patterns of intergenerational education (im)mobility’ through a cluster analysis that takes into account the level of intergenerational mobility in education and a number of variables concerning its possible drivers, considering data on 82 countries (with different levels of development). The advantage of cluster analysis lies in the possibility of identifying regularities, but avoiding reasoning ‘on average’, i.e., safeguarding the possibility that different social patterns may exist. The results also allow us to speculate on possible policies to increase school mobility, highlighting, among other things, the ‘equalising’ role played by public spending on education.

Suggested Citation

  • Enzo Valentini, 2024. "Patterns of Intergenerational Educational (Im)Mobility," Economies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:12:y:2024:i:6:p:126-:d:1398747
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mengchen Li, 2025. "Why Can They Learn So Well? The Multidimensional Impact of Parental Income Levels on Chinese Children’s Academic Achievement," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(3), pages 21582440251, August.
    2. Costinela Fortea & Valentin-Marian Antohi & Ioana Lazarescu & Doina Iacob, 2025. "Analysis of the Impact of Government Spending on Income Inequality in the EU Member States," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 3, pages 60-71.

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