The lasting impact of grandfathers: class, occupational status, and earnings over three generations (Sweden, 1815-2010)

Martin Dribe () and Jonas Helgertz ()
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Martin Dribe: Lund University
Jonas Helgertz: Lund University

No 15027, Working Papers from Economic History Society

Abstract: "Most research on social and economic mobility follows a two-generation approach, studying the correlations between the socioeconomic status of, for example, fathers and sons. Much less attention has been given to transmissions of status beyond two generations. This issue is of considerable relevance both for our understanding of societal openness and the stability of class structures. In this paper we look at socio-economic mobility across three generations in Sweden in the period 1813-2010. Using longitudinal micro-level data from the Scanian Economic- Demographic Database, we identify three-generation genealogies (grandfather, father, son) that we are able to observe in their prime working ages. We examine the multigenerational transmission of socio-economic status according to three different dimensions; social class, occupational status, and earnings, through estimated lifetime earnings, the HISCLASS scheme, and the HISCAM scale. We find clear associations between grandparental class and occupational status and grandchildren’s outcomes, when controlling for the associations between fathers and sons. These associations are remarkably stable over time, and do not appear to be contingent upon close interaction between grandfathers and grandchildren. For earnings, on the other hand, we find no association at all between grandfathers and grandsons, regardless if we are looking at grandparental influence on the paternal or maternal side, or both sides combined"

JEL-codes: N00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-03
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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