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Elite universities and the intergenerational transmission of human and social capital

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Listed:
  • Andrés Barrios Fernández
  • Christopher Neilson
  • Seth Zimmerman

Abstract

Do elite colleges help talented students join the social elite, or help incumbent elites retain their positions? We combine intergenerationally-linked data from Chile with a regression discontinuity design to show that, looking across generations, elite colleges do both. Lower-status individuals who gain admission to elite college programs transform their children's social environment. Children become more likely to attend high-status private schools and colleges, and to live near and befriend high-status peers. In contrast, academic achievement is unaffected. Simulations combining descriptive and quasi-experimental findings show that elite colleges tighten the link between social and human capital while decreasing intergenerational social mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrés Barrios Fernández & Christopher Neilson & Seth Zimmerman, 2024. "Elite universities and the intergenerational transmission of human and social capital," CEP Discussion Papers dp2026, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp2026
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Seth D. Zimmerman, 2019. "Elite Colleges and Upward Mobility to Top Jobs and Top Incomes," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(1), pages 1-47, January.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    elite universities; intergenerational mobility; human capital; social capital;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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