Lessons for Americans from Denmark about inequality and social mobility

James Heckman and Rasmus Landersø

Labour Economics, 2022, vol. 77, issue C

Abstract: Many progressive American policy analysts point to Denmark as a model welfare state with low levels of income inequality and high levels of income mobility across generations. It has in place many social policies now advocated for adoption in the U.S. Despite generous Danish social policies, family influence on important child outcomes in Denmark is about as strong as it is in the United States. More advantaged families are better able to access, utilize, and influence universally available programs. Purposive sorting by levels of family advantage create neighborhood effects. Powerful forces not easily mitigated by Danish-style welfare state programs operate in both countries.

Keywords: Inequality; Social mobility; Family influence; Power of place (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H24 H44 J12 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:labeco:v:77:y:2022:i:c:s0927537121000348

DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2021.101999

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