The Intergenerational Transmission of Economic Disadvantages and Social Exclusion – Constraints on Social Mobility

Based on longitudinal data from the Cross-National Equivalent File 1980 – 2008 (CNEF 1980 – 2008) the paper analyzes the extent and structure of the intergenerational transmission of economic (dis)advantages in Germany, the United States, and Great Britain – countries with different family role models, institutional labor market settings, and welfare state regimes. The empirical results show a high intergenerational income immobility in the United States: the contribution of individual and family background characteristics, and social exclusion features to the intergenerational income elasticity is more pronounced than in Germany, and in Great Britain. The results do not validate the hypothesis of a higher influence of individual and family background characteristics in Germany due to traditional family role patterns. The significant impact of educational attainment on the intergenerational transmission of economic chances emphasizes the importance of a human capital oriented economic and social policy design