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Social mobility and inequality between groups

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  • Patricia Funjika
  • Rachel M. Gisselquist

Abstract

The relationship between social mobility and inequality is well studied in the literature, but far greater attention has been paid to 'vertical' than to 'horizontal' inequality. This paper focuses on mobility and horizontal inequality between ethnic, racial, and culturally-defined groups. Not only is persistence in horizontal inequality due to low intergenerational mobility overall, it argues, it also is explained by the lower mobility of disadvantaged compared with advantaged groups in many societies. Group-based discrimination, among other factors, contributes.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia Funjika & Rachel M. Gisselquist, 2020. "Social mobility and inequality between groups," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-12, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2020-12
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    2. Kundu, Anustup & Sen, Kunal, 2021. "Multigenerational Mobility in India," IZA Discussion Papers 14566, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    Keywords

    Social mobility; Horizontal inequality; Ethnic inequality; Intergenerational Mobility; Discrimination;
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