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The Myth of Nordic Mobility: Social Mobility Rates in Modern Denmark and Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Gregory Clark

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Martin Hørlyk Kristensen

    (University of Southern Denmark)

Abstract

In this paper we estimate social mobility rates, free of measurement errors, using register data for Denmark and Sweden, 1968 to 2021. To correct for measurement error attenuation, we take ratios of the correlation of relatives at different locations in family trees, such as cousins relative to siblings. Three things emerge from these estimates. First social mobility rates in both Denmark and Sweden are much lower than conventionally estimated. Second these countries, despite their reputation for high social mobility rates, have nearly the same degree of persistence as in modern England, and also nineteenth century England or Sweden. Finally in all the cases observed marital assortment is much stronger than conventionally estimated, and this helps explain the low rates of intergenerational mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregory Clark & Martin Hørlyk Kristensen, 2025. "The Myth of Nordic Mobility: Social Mobility Rates in Modern Denmark and Sweden," Working Papers 0275, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    • Handle: RePEc:hes:wpaper:0275
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    File URL: https://www.ehes.org/wp/EHES_275.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M Dolores Collado & Ignacio Ortuño-Ortín & Jan Stuhler, 2023. "Estimating Intergenerational and Assortative Processes in Extended Family Data," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(3), pages 1195-1227.
    2. Gregory Clark, 2015. "The Son Also Rises: Surnames and the History of Social Mobility," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 10181-2.
    3. van der Weide, Roy & Lakner, Christoph & Mahler, Daniel Gerszon & Narayan, Ambar & Gupta, Rakesh, 2024. "Intergenerational mobility around the world: A new database," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    4. Heckman, James & Landersø, Rasmus, 2022. "Lessons for Americans from Denmark about inequality and social mobility," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intergenerational mobility; social mobility; assortative mating;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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