Does Social Mobility Affect Economic Development?

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry analyzed. Core Insights - The analysis indicates that upward educational mobility is positively associated with GDP per capita in Europe and Central Asia, while relative mobility indicators show no correlation with country income levels [3][13][81] - In Latin America, higher relative mobility correlates with lower income, whereas higher absolute mobility is linked to higher income [13][14][81] - The study introduces a new measure of intergenerational mobility in education, termed the upward mobility gap, which enhances the understanding of educational mobility across different contexts [11][80] Summary by Sections Introduction - The report discusses the importance of social mobility in economic growth, emphasizing that talent allocation improves in socially mobile societies [7][8] Literature Review - Previous studies show significant variations in intergenerational educational mobility across countries, with high persistence in Latin America and greater mobility in Northern Europe [16][18] Measures of Educational Mobility - The report utilizes various measures to capture trends in intergenerational educational mobility, including oriented mobility measures and absolute mobility measures [20][33] Empirical Framework - The empirical analysis employs a framework to assess the relationship between educational mobility and economic development, using data from 68 countries over the period 2000-2020 [37][43] Educational Mobility Across Countries - The report identifies patterns of intergenerational educational mobility, noting that upward absolute mobility has declined in Europe and Central Asia, while South Asia has seen increases in both absolute and relative mobility [12][63] Educational Mobility and Economic Development - The analysis reveals a context-specific relationship between educational mobility and income levels, with upward mobility in higher education showing a positive correlation with GDP per capita across various regions [67][68][81] Conclusions - The findings suggest that the relationship between intergenerational educational mobility and economic development is complex and varies by region, indicating that certain aspects of mobility are more relevant for growth in specific contexts [81][82]