A multi-country study of inter-generational educational mobility

This paper analyses inter-generational educational mobility using survey data for European countries. We find that a number of interesting patterns emerge. Estimating a measure of mobility as movement and an index of mobility as equality of opportunity we find that while these two measures are positively correlated the correlation is less than perfect. Examining the link with educational inequality we find evidence, which suggests an inverse relationship consistent with egalitarian theory, this relationship is also independent of labour market characteristics such as the returns to education. Mobility appears to be somewhat higher for men and has risen through time but independently of the increase in tertiary education participation. So that there are doubts that policies increasing access to universities have had much impact on the family background of pupils attending tertiary education institutions but public intervention is in general associated with an increase in mobility.