The economics of social mobility
Social mobility refers to the extent to which individuals or families move up or down the economic and social hierarchy relative to their parents. It captures the relationship between a person’s income, occupation, or social status in adulthood and that of their parents, reflecting both intergenerational opportunity and the ability to overcome structural barriers. Understanding the determinants, constraints and consequences of mobility is essential for designing effective education, labour and fiscal policies, and for promoting more equitable economic outcomes.
We invite research that explores social mobility primarily from the perspective of economics, including labour economics, public finance, development economics, and macroeconomics. We also welcome contributions that draw on broader socioeconomic perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches, or policy analysis, particularly when they consider mechanisms affecting opportunity, inequality and economic advancement.
Research is invited on a range of themes, including but not limited to:
- Intergenerational income and wealth mobility: how parental income, wealth, or social capital affect children’s economic outcomes
- Educational attainment and opportunity: the role of early childhood programs, school quality, higher education, and vocational training
- Labour market dynamics: employment opportunities, wage structures, career progression, and the effects of unions or minimum wages
- Taxation, social policy, and redistribution: how fiscal and welfare policies influence economic mobility
- Geographic and neighbourhood effects: urban-rural disparities, housing, infrastructure, and local opportunity structures
- Health and social mobility: impacts of early-life health, nutrition, and healthcare access on economic outcomes
- Inheritance, intergenerational transfers, and wealth accumulation: the role of gifts, bequests, and asset ownership
- Inequality and macroeconomic context: the relationship between overall inequality and mobility, including cross-country comparisons
- Behavioural, cultural, and social network factors: expectations, norms, and social capital shaping economic advancement
- Technology, automation, and structural change: how shifts in labour demand, digitalisation, and globalisation affect opportunity
Submissions may include empirical studies, theoretical models, policy evaluations, historical analyses, or applied research relevant to the economic, social, or policy dimensions of social mobility.
Editors
