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Social Mobility: What is it and Why Does it Matter?

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  • Sebastián Galiani

    (Maryland University)

Abstract

The definition of social mobility is a matter of debate. In the following discussion, conceptual issues in the literature on mobility are commented. This paper defines social mobility as a situation in which the relative economic status of an agent is not dependent on starting conditions such as parental income or family background. Analyzing the determinants of mobility involves exploring the channels through which offspring’s income is correlated to its parents’, such as inherited bequest, education, skills, among many others. This survey explores, in an analytical framework, the relation between social mobility and inequality, among other important dimensions of income distribution that are jointly determined. The focus is on the relevance of social mobility as it affects variables determining welfare and economic efficiency, and therefore on policies to promote it.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastián Galiani, 2013. "Social Mobility: What is it and Why Does it Matter?," Económica, Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, vol. 59, pages 167-229, January-D.
    • Handle: RePEc:akh:journl:589
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    File URL: https://revistas.unlp.edu.ar/Economica/article/view/5353/4872
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    Cited by:

    1. Hyungna Oh & Yun Jeong Choi, 2014. "Limited Income Mobility in Korea," Working papers 2014rwp-64, Yonsei University, Yonsei Economics Research Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social mobility; Inequality; Efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics
    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers

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