Intergenerational Earnings Mobility in Singapore and the United States

This study compared intergenerational earnings mobility in Singapore and the United States by replicating the sample criteria in the Singapore National Youth Survey on the U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The mean estimated earnings elasticities are almost identical: 0.26 in Singapore and 0.28 i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: NG, Irene Y. H., SHEN, Xiaoyi, HO, Kong Weng
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soe_research/1631
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soe_research/article/2630/viewcontent/2009_IntergenerationalEarningsMobilitySingaporeUS_postprint.pdf
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Institution: Singapore Management University
Language: English
Description
Summary:This study compared intergenerational earnings mobility in Singapore and the United States by replicating the sample criteria in the Singapore National Youth Survey on the U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The mean estimated earnings elasticities are almost identical: 0.26 in Singapore and 0.28 in the United States. Transformed to 0.44 and 0.47 respectively to reflect permanent status, mobility in the two countries is moderately low compared internationally. The finding of similar mobility is not surprising given that the two countries have similar economic realities, welfare systems, education regimes, and labor structures. Policy makers face the daunting challenge of overcoming immobility and inequality while maintaining global competitiveness.