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Using Understanding Society to study intergenerational wealth mobility in the UK

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  • Peter Levell
  • David Sturrock

Abstract

Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study enables researchers to track individuals as they grow up and form new households, making it invaluable for studying the intergenerational persistence of outcomes including income, health and wealth. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Understanding Society relative to other datasets, and document patterns of attrition as individuals transition from childhood to adulthood. We then use Understanding Society to document the intergenerational persistence of wealth in the UK. We find that the intergenerational persistence of wealth is greater than for earnings, and that only around half of the intergenerational persistence of wealth can be explained by the intergenerational persistence in earnings and education.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Levell & David Sturrock, 2023. "Using Understanding Society to study intergenerational wealth mobility in the UK," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 417-432, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:fistud:v:44:y:2023:i:4:p:417-432
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-5890.12352
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Christophe Van Langenhove, 2025. "Wealth Mobility in the United States: Empirical Evidence from the PSID," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 25/1104, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    2. Peter Levell & David Sturrock, 2026. "How do house prices affect social mobility?," IFS Working Papers W26/02, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    3. Ricky Kanabar, 2024. "Assortative mating and wealth inequality in Great Britain: evidence from the baby boomer and Gen X cohorts," CEPEO Working Paper Series 24-07, UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, revised Nov 2024.
    4. van Langenhove, Christophe & Lorenz, Jan & Schulz-Gebhard, Jan, 2026. "Wealth taxation, capital gains taxation and the inequality-mobility trade-off," BERG Working Paper Series 211, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.
    5. Michaela Benzeval & Thomas F. Crossley & Edith Aguirre, 2023. "A symposium on Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study: introduction," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 317-340, December.
    6. Paul Fisher & Omar Hussein, 2023. "Understanding Society: the income data," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 377-397, December.

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