Studies on social mobility examine the link between individual outcomes and the features of social and family background, assessing, from several points of view, whether and to what extent socio-economic inequalities persist in subsequent generations. From a policy perspective an increase in mobility – i.e. a weakening of the intergenerational connection between social positions – is usually regarded as positive for reasons of both equity and efficiency since it can improve equality of opportunity and the way human resources are allocated to their best use.
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