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Intergenerational Income Mobility in France: A Comparative and Geographic Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Gustave Kenedi

    (Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Paris)

  • Louis Sirugue

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

We provide new estimates of intergenerational income mobility in France for children born in the 1970s using rich administrative data. Since parents' incomes are not observed, we employ a two-sample two-stage least squares estimation. We show, using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, that this method slightly underestimates rank-based measures of intergenerational persistence. Our results suggest France is characterized by a strong persistence relative to other developed countries. 9.7% of children born to parents in the bottom 20% reach the top 20% in adulthood, four times less than children from the top 20%. We uncover substantial spatial variations in intergenerational mobility across departments, and a positive relationship between geographic mobility and intergenerational upward mobility. The expected income rank of individuals from the bottom of the parent income distribution who moved towards high-income departments is around the same as the expected income rank of individuals from the 75 th percentile who stayed in their childhood department.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustave Kenedi & Louis Sirugue, 2023. "Intergenerational Income Mobility in France: A Comparative and Geographic Analysis," PSE Working Papers halshs-04423899, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:psewpa:halshs-04423899
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04423899v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leah Boustan & Mathias Fjællegaard Jensen & Ran Abramitzky & Elisa Jácome & Alan Manning & Santiago Pérez & Analysia Watley & Adrian Adermon & Jaime Arellano-Bover & Olof Åslund & Marie Connolly & Nat, 2025. "Intergenerational Mobility of Immigrants in 15 Destination Countries," NBER Working Papers 33558, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Cécile Bonneau & Sébastien Grobon, 2025. "Parental Income and Higher Education: Evidence From France," Post-Print halshs-04976868, HAL.
    3. Cécile Bonneau & Sébastien Grobon, 2025. "Parental Income and Higher Education: Evidence From France," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-04976868, HAL.
    4. Cécile Bonneau & Sébastien Grobon, 2025. "Parental Income and Higher Education: Evidence From France," Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 25004, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1), Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne.

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    Keywords

    Intergenerational mobility; Geographic mobility; Spatial variations;
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