Intergenerational Social Mobility and Gender Disparities by Cohort: A Comparative Study of Spain and Chile

Abstract This study compares social mobility between Chile and Spain, employing a cohort analysis to generate a consistent analysis between men and women in both countries. The study uses data from multiple national surveys in Spain, but in Chile, increases the sample and period of analysis. In terms of analytical methods, the study presents several innovations. It incorporates the classic analyses of social mobility, while also adopting a long-term perspective through the use of cohorts. Furthermore, it employs the criterion of dominance in social origin, thereby rectifying the shortcomings of previous studies which failed to incorporate the role of the mother. The main findings show that education is a significant determinant of social mobility, although they also reveal notable differences between men and women. In particular, women are the primary contributors to mobility. Furthermore, an examination of temporal trends reveals that both structural and relative mobility are shaped by the distribution of opportunities, yet high levels of social reproduction persist.