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Immobile Australia: Surnames Show Strong Status Persistence, 1870-2017

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  • Gregory Clark
  • Andrew Leigh
  • Mike Pottenger

Abstract

The paper estimates long run social mobility in Australia 1870-2017 tracking the status of rare surnames. The status information includes occupations from electoral rolls, and records of degrees awarded by Melbourne and Sydney universities. Status persistence was strong throughout, with an intergenerational correlation of 0.7-0.8, and no change over time. Notwithstanding egalitarian norms, high immigration and a well-targeted social safety net, Australian long-run social mobility rates are low. Despite evidence on conventional measures that Australia has higher rates of social mobility than the UK or USA, status persistence for surnames is as high as that in England or the USA.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregory Clark & Andrew Leigh & Mike Pottenger, 2017. "Immobile Australia: Surnames Show Strong Status Persistence, 1870-2017," CESifo Working Paper Series 6650, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6650
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bhashkar Mazumder, 2005. "Fortunate Sons: New Estimates of Intergenerational Mobility in the United States Using Social Security Earnings Data," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 87(2), pages 235-255, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Chang, Simon & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2025. "The long run gender origins of entrepreneurship: Evidence from Australia's convict history," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 40(6).
    3. Catherine Guirkinger & Gani Aldashev & Alisher Aldashev & Mate Fodor, 2022. "Economic Persistence Despite Adverse Policies: Evidence from Kyrgyzstan," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(641), pages 258-272.

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    JEL classification:

    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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