Intergenerational earnings mobility in Singapore and the United States

Irene Y.H. Ng, Xiaoyi Shen and Kong Weng Ho ()

Journal of Asian Economics, 2009, vol. 20, issue 2, 110-119

Abstract: This study compared intergenerational earnings mobility in Singapore and the United States by replicating the sample criteria in the Singapore National Youth Survey on the U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The mean estimated earnings elasticities are almost identical: 0.26 in Singapore and 0.28 in the United States. Transformed to 0.44 and 0.47 respectively to reflect permanent status, mobility in the two countries is moderately low compared internationally. The finding of similar mobility is not surprising given that the two countries have similar economic realities, welfare systems, education regimes, and labor structures. Policy makers face the daunting challenge of overcoming immobility and inequality while maintaining global competitiveness.

Keywords: Intergenerational; earnings; mobility; Singapore; United; States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Working Paper: Intergenerational Earnings Mobility in Singapore and the United States (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:asieco:v:20:y:2009:i:2:p:110-119

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