Analyzing data spanning 1910 to 2013, Catherine Massey and coauthors Joseph Ferrie and Jonathan Rothbaum examine the impact of grandparents and great-grandparents on intergenerational social mobility – in this case, on educational attainment. Their correlation for transmission of educational attainment across generations is higher than found in previous research, suggesting that social inequality is more likely to persist over time. Eventually, the researchers intend to link together six generations of data – creating family lines stretching back to 1850.

More about Massey et al. say transmission of social disadvantage across family generations is higher than previously thought >