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arXiv · 2509.16734

Multigenerational Inequality

Jan Stuhler
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Abstract

A growing literature provides evidence on multigenerational inequality -- the extent to which socio-economic advantages persist across three or more generations. This chapter reviews its main findings and implications. Most studies find that inequality is more persistent than a naive iteration of conventional parent-child correlations would suggest. We discuss potential interpretations of this new ``fact'' related to (i) latent, (ii) non-Markovian or (iii) non-linear transmission processes, empirical strategies to discriminate between them, and the link between multigenerational and assortative associations.

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Jan Stuhler. 2025-09-20. Multigenerational Inequality. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800888265.00015

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