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Economic approach to intergenerational mobility: Measures, methods, and challenges in developing countries

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  • Shahe Emran
  • Forhad Shilpi

Abstract

This paper provides a critical survey and synthesis of the recent economic literature on intergenerational mobility in developing countries, with a focus on data and methodological challenges. The attenuation due to measurement error is compounded by sample truncation resulting from co-residency and causes substantial downward bias in intergenerational regression coefficient. In contrast, intergenerational correlation and intergenerational rank correlation are much more robust to such data limitations.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahe Emran & Forhad Shilpi, 2019. "Economic approach to intergenerational mobility: Measures, methods, and challenges in developing countries," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2019-98, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2019-98
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    2. M. Shahe Emran & Francisco H. G. Ferreira & Yajing Jiang & Yan Sun, 2023. "Occupational dualism and intergenerational educational mobility in the rural economy: evidence from China and India," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 21(3), pages 743-773, September.
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    5. Chen, Liwen & Chung, Bobby W. & Wang, Guanghua, 2023. "Exposure to socially influential peer parents: Evidence from cadre parents in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Vegard Iversen, 2020. "Can 'good' social mobility news be 'bad' and vice versa? Measurement (and downward mobility) pitfalls," WIDER Working Paper Series wp2020-13, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Finaret, Amelia B. & Masters, William A., 2020. "Can shorter mothers have taller children? Nutritional mobility, health equity and the intergenerational transmission of relative height," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    8. Ahsan, Md Nazmul & Emran, M. Shahe & Shilpi, Forhad, 2024. "Complementarities and intergenerational educational mobility: Theory and evidence from Indonesia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 170-191.
    9. Guido Neidhöfer & Leonardo Gasparini & Matias Ciaschi, "undated". "Intergenerational mobility of economic well-being in Latin America," Working Papers 620, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    10. Emran, M. Shahe & Jiang, Hanchen & Shilpi, Forhad, 2020. "Gender Bias and Intergenerational Educational Mobility: Theory and Evidence from China and India," GLO Discussion Paper Series 497, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    11. Paolo Brunori & Francisco H.G. Ferreira & Guido Neidhöfer, 2023. "Inequality of opportunity and intergenerational persistence in Latin America," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-39, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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    13. Marcelo Cardona & Sam Jones, 2021. "How far does the apple really fall from the tree?: Practical guidance on measuring intergenerational mobility from a simulation framework," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-101, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    14. Mohammad H. Sepahvand & Roujman Shahbazian, 2021. "Sibling correlation in risk attitudes: evidence from Burkina Faso," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 19(1), pages 45-72, March.
    15. Nawazuddin Ahmed & Dinesh K. Nauriyal, 2023. "Occupational and Educational Mobility Among Indian Muslims: Primary Survey-Based Evidence," Millennial Asia, , vol. 14(2), pages 228-259, June.
    16. Liwen Chen & Bobby Chung & Guanghua Wang, 2021. "Exposure to Socially Influential Peer Parents: Evidence from Cadre Parents in China," Working Papers 2021-052, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    17. Vegard Iversen, 2020. "Can 'good' social mobility news be 'bad' and vice versa?: Measurement (and downward mobility) pitfalls," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-13, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    18. Luana dos Santos Fraga & Tatiane Pelegrini & Izete Pengo Bagolin, 2022. "The Factors Influencing Intergenerational Mobility Levels among Higher Education Graduates in Brazil: A Comparison of the Years 2004 and 2018," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 13(1), pages 59-71.
    19. Rose Fontep & Kunal Sen, 2020. "Is there a gender bias in intergenerational mobility?: Evidence from Cameroon," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-111, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    20. Javier Cortes Orihuela & Juan D. Díaz & Pablo Gutiérrez Cubillos & Pablo A. Troncoso, 2024. "Everything’s not lost: revisiting TSTSLS estimates of intergenerational mobility in developing countries," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 31(1), pages 66-94, February.

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