Intergenerational persistence of poverty

The persistence of poverty across generations is an aspect of intergenerational mobility of particular importance from the perspective of wellbeing and equality of opportunity, as well as for policy. This chapter briefly discusses what poverty means and how it is generally measured. The evidence about the extent of poverty persistence from studies employing income for both current and parental generations is then reviewed. We then focus on studies that go beyond income in a variety of ways. Welfare dependence may serve as a proxy for poverty and intergenerational persistence in that regard is also reviewed. We then discuss underlying causal processes and mechanisms, and what can be learned about them from studies of poverty persistence. Finally key messages from the literature and gaps that need to be filled are highlighted along with policy implications.