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China and the United States: Different economic models but similarly low levels of socioeconomic mobility

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  • Roy van der Weide
  • Ambar Narayan

Abstract

The United States and China are the world's largest economies. Together they are responsible for about one-third of the world's economic output. This paper aims to examine whether the two economic giants are also lands of opportunity where resources are allocated in a way that minimizes unrealized human potential. Our analysis shows that despite stark differences in their levels of development, the US and China report remarkably similar levels of socioeconomic mobility; a level that is considered low by international standards.

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  • Roy van der Weide & Ambar Narayan, 2019. "China and the United States: Different economic models but similarly low levels of socioeconomic mobility," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2019-121, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2019-121
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    1. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay & Rui Sun, 2020. "Size matters: measuring the effects of inequality and growth shocks," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-177, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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    Keywords

    Intergenerational Mobility; Equality of opportunity; Education; Income; China; United States;
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