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The Name Says It All: Multigenerational Social Mobility in Basel (Switzerland), 1550–2019

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  • Melanie Häner
  • Christoph A. Schaltegger

Abstract

We analyze multigenerational social mobility by drawing on a novel hand-collected data set from Basel (1550–2019) and using a new surname-based approach. We find an average parent–child persistence of about 0.4 and an average grandparent–child persistence of about 0.2 in a three-generational model applied to a time span of more than 450 years. A cyclical pattern indicates that social mobility was lowest in wartime generations, with spreading afterward. We measure a statistically significant additional influence of the grandparental generation but not of earlier generations. This reveals the importance of multigenerational analyses to examine equal opportunities in society.

Suggested Citation

  • Melanie Häner & Christoph A. Schaltegger, 2024. "The Name Says It All: Multigenerational Social Mobility in Basel (Switzerland), 1550–2019," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(3), pages 711-742.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:59:y:2024:i:3:p:711-742
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0621-11749R2
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Del Pizzo & Martin Nybom & Jan Stuhler, 2026. "Indirect Estimators of Intergenerational Mobility," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 26137, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    2. David de la Croix & Marc Goñi, 2024. "Nepotism vs. intergenerational transmission of human capital in Academia (1088–1800)," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 29(4), pages 469-514, December.
    3. Bühler, Jonas & Jenni, Oskar G. & Schaltegger, Christoph A. & Häner-Müller, Melanie & Wehrle, Flavia M., 2026. "Mind the gap: Multigenerational family effects on cognitive abilities," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).

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