Generalized Intergenerational Mobility Regressions
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| Title: | Generalized Intergenerational Mobility Regressions |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Esfandiar Maasoumi, Le Wang (ORCID |
| Source: | Sociological Methods & Research. 2025 54(4):1594-1623. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 30 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Regression (Statistics), Social Mobility, Statistical Analysis, Income, Parent Child Relationship |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Panel Study of Income Dynamics |
| DOI: | 10.1177/00491241251357586 |
| ISSN: | 0049-1241 1552-8294 |
| Abstract: | Current research on intergenerational mobility (IGM) is informed by "statistical" approaches based on log-level regressions, whose "economic" interpretations remain largely unknown. We reveal the subjective value-judgments in them: they are represented by weighted-sums (or aggregators) over heterogeneous groups, with controversial "economic" properties. Log-level regressions tend to overrepresent the experiences of middle-class children while underrepresenting those from disadvantaged families. We propose a general construction of IGM measures that can incorporate any transparent "economic" preferences. They are interpreted as the marginal effect of parental normalized social welfare on children's normalized welfare. Conventional regressions are special cases with implicit economic preferences that fail inequality-aversion and the Pigou-Dalton principle of transfers. Empirically, a variety of economic preferences, with varying inequality aversion, demonstrate a nuanced view of mobility, and perspectives on geographic-differences and dynamics of it. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1485847 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Current research on intergenerational mobility (IGM) is informed by "statistical" approaches based on log-level regressions, whose "economic" interpretations remain largely unknown. We reveal the subjective value-judgments in them: they are represented by weighted-sums (or aggregators) over heterogeneous groups, with controversial "economic" properties. Log-level regressions tend to overrepresent the experiences of middle-class children while underrepresenting those from disadvantaged families. We propose a general construction of IGM measures that can incorporate any transparent "economic" preferences. They are interpreted as the marginal effect of parental normalized social welfare on children's normalized welfare. Conventional regressions are special cases with implicit economic preferences that fail inequality-aversion and the Pigou-Dalton principle of transfers. Empirically, a variety of economic preferences, with varying inequality aversion, demonstrate a nuanced view of mobility, and perspectives on geographic-differences and dynamics of it. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0049-1241 1552-8294 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/00491241251357586 |
