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Intergenerational mobility in educational and occupational status: evidence from the U.S

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Abstract

In this paper we take up Goldberger’s (1989) suggestion to investigate intergenerational mobility using non-monetary measures. We use a newly released data set, the NELS, which allows us to investigate the contemporary intergenerational mobility in education and occupation in the United States. Our results from order logit models indicate strong evidence of intergenerational linkage in educational attainment and occupational status between parents’ and their children. We allow for family background during adolescence and find supporting evidence for the child qualityquantity trade-off. Negative effects of non-intact family are also found. Racial differences in the patterns of intergenerational mobility are also highlighted in this study.

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  • Nguyen, Anh & Getinet, Haile, 2003. "Intergenerational mobility in educational and occupational status: evidence from the U.S," MPRA Paper 1383, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:1383
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    Cited by:

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    2. Caner, Asena & Okten, Cagla, 2010. "Risk and career choice: Evidence from Turkey," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 1060-1075, December.
    3. Malik Muhammad & Muhammad Jamil, 2020. "Intergenerational Mobility in Educational Attainments," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 59(2), pages 179-198.
    4. Anna Christina D'Addio, 2007. "Intergenerational Transmission of Disadvantage: Mobility or Immobility Across Generations?," OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers 52, OECD Publishing.

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