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Climbing the Ladder: The Intergenerational Mobility of Second-Generation Immigrants in France

Author

Listed:
  • Simone Moriconi
  • Mikaël Pasternak
  • Ahmed Tritah
  • Nadiya Ukrayinchuk

Abstract

We provide new evidence on intergenerational social mobility among immigrants and natives in France. Using linked parent–child data from censuses, we introduce an individual-level metric - the Intergenerational Rank Difference (IRD) - that measures upward and downward mobility relative to the highest-ranked parent across both education and predicted income. We document a robust mobility premium for second-generation immigrants: on average, they achieve a predicted income rank six percentiles higher than observationally equivalent natives, with the advantage most pronounced among women, children of two immigrant parents, and those from disadvantaged households. Educational gains explain part of this differential, but labor-market advancement plays the larger role. Internal migration emerges as an important channel, as immigrant movers disproportionately relocate to high-mobility areas. Finally, a spatial analysis highlights substantial heterogeneity: some local areas act as “lands of opportunity,” while others are associated with stagnation or decline. These findings underscore the interplay of individual characteristics and local contexts in shaping long-run integration and suggest a role for place-aware policies to foster equality of opportunity.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Moriconi & Mikaël Pasternak & Ahmed Tritah & Nadiya Ukrayinchuk, 2025. "Climbing the Ladder: The Intergenerational Mobility of Second-Generation Immigrants in France," CESifo Working Paper Series 12196, CESifo.
  • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12196
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    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • 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
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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