Robust Determinants of Intergenerational Mobility in the Land of Opportunity

58 Pages Posted: 3 Oct 2014 Last revised: 3 May 2016

See all articles by Andros Kourtellos

Andros Kourtellos

University of Cyprus - Department of Economics; University of Bologna - Rimini Center for Economic Analysis (RCEA)

Christa Marr

Rollins College - Department of Economics; Fitchburg State University

Chih Ming Tan

University of North Dakota - Nistler College of Business & Public Administration - Department of Economics & Finance

Date Written: October 1, 2014

Abstract

This paper revisits the influential work by Chetty, Hendren, Kline, and Saez (2014) who attempt to explain the variation in intergenerational mobility across commuter zones in the US (i.e., spatial mobility) using nine classes of variables. We employ Bayesian model averaging methods that allow for model uncertainty to identify robust predictors of spatial mobility. In doing so we pay special attention to the specification of model and parameter priors. We also investigate the heterogeneous effects of these predictors on spatial mobility across commuter zones in different average income quintiles. Our findings suggest a more nuance and complex characterization of the spatial mobility process than that proposed by Chetty, Hendren, Kline, and Saez.

Keywords: intergenerational mobility, income persistence, BMA, model uncertainty.

JEL Classification: C14, I14, I24.

Suggested Citation

Kourtellos, Andros and Marr, Christa and Marr, Christa and Tan, Chih Ming, Robust Determinants of Intergenerational Mobility in the Land of Opportunity (October 1, 2014). European Economic Review, Vol. 18, 2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2504100 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2504100

Andros Kourtellos (Contact Author)

University of Cyprus - Department of Economics ( email )

75 Kallipoleos Street
P.O. Box 20537
1678 Nicosia
Cyprus

University of Bologna - Rimini Center for Economic Analysis (RCEA) ( email )

Via Patara, 3
Rimini (RN), RN 47900
Italy

Christa Marr

Rollins College - Department of Economics ( email )

1000 Holt Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
United States

HOME PAGE: http://christamarr.com

Fitchburg State University ( email )

160 Pearl St
Fitchburg, MA 01420
United States

Chih Ming Tan

University of North Dakota - Nistler College of Business & Public Administration - Department of Economics & Finance ( email )

3125 University Ave, Stop 8369
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8369
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://und.edu/directory/chihming.tan

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