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Research ArticleArticles

Biases in Standard Measures of Intergenerational Income Dependence

Martin Nybom and Jan Stuhler
Journal of Human Resources, July 2017, 52 (3) 800-825; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.52.3.0715-7290R
Martin Nybom
Martin Nybom is an assistant professor at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) at Stockholm University and researcher at the Institute for Evaluation of Labor Market and Education Policy (IFAU), . Jan Stuhler is an assistant professor at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and affiliated with SOFI,
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  • For correspondence: [email protected] [email protected]
Jan Stuhler
Martin Nybom is an assistant professor at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) at Stockholm University and researcher at the Institute for Evaluation of Labor Market and Education Policy (IFAU), . Jan Stuhler is an assistant professor at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and affiliated with SOFI,
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  • For correspondence: [email protected] [email protected]
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Abstract

Estimates of the most common mobility measure, the intergenerational elasticity, can be severely biased if snapshots are used to approximate lifetime income. However, little is known about biases in other popular dependence measures. Using long Swedish income series, we provide such evidence for log-linear and rank correlations, and rank-based transition probabilities. Attenuation bias is considerably weaker in rank-based measures. Life-cycle bias is strongest in the elasticity, moderate in log-linear correlations, and small in rank-based measures. However, there are important exceptions: persistence in the tails of the distribution is considerably higher and long-distance downward mobility lower than estimates from short-run income suggest.

  • Received July 2015.
  • Accepted April 2016.
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Journal of Human Resources: 52 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 52, Issue 3
1 Jul 2017
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Biases in Standard Measures of Intergenerational Income Dependence
Martin Nybom, Jan Stuhler
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2017, 52 (3) 800-825; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.52.3.0715-7290R

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Biases in Standard Measures of Intergenerational Income Dependence
Martin Nybom, Jan Stuhler
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2017, 52 (3) 800-825; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.52.3.0715-7290R
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Standard Measures of Intergenerational
    • III. Data
    • IV. Empirical Strategy and Basic Results
    • V. Biases in Standard Measures of Income Dependence
    • VI. Conclusions
    • Appendix 1 Additional Tables and Figures
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