Intergenerational Mobility

Intergenerational mobility refers to the ability of individuals to improve or change their socioeconomic status compared to their parents. It looks at whether children’s economic positions—such as income, education, or occupation—are higher, lower, or similar to those of their parents. High mobility means people have significant opportunities to move up or down the social ladder regardless of their family background. Low mobility indicates stability across generations, where wealth and status are more likely to stay within families. This concept helps assess how fair and equitable a society is in providing opportunities for upward advancement.