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Cross-border migration and social mobility: regional dynamics as levers for upward social mobility?

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  • Noame Khaldi
  • Mehdi Guelmamen

Abstract

The question of social mobility, particularly in deindustrialized regions, is a central issue in understanding contemporary economic and social dynamics. This article examines how regional contexts influence the social trajectories of workers. Using intergenerational mobility tables and an econometric strategy mobilizing a control function, we assess the impact of geographic and social origins on workers’ opportunities for upward social mobility. A combination of economic, geographic and social factors influences their upward social mobility. Geographic and crossborder mobility is a key factor in the upward social mobility of working-class people. These findings help to shed the light on the role of regional disparities and border mobility in structuring socioeconomic inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Noame Khaldi & Mehdi Guelmamen, 2025. "Cross-border migration and social mobility: regional dynamics as levers for upward social mobility?," Working Papers of BETA 2025-17, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2025-17
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    File URL: http://beta.u-strasbg.fr/WP/2025/2025-17.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • P51 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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