Intergenerational mobility in the very long run: Florence 1427–2011
This paper investigates intergenerational socioeconomic mobility in Florence over six centuries using surname-based pseudo-links from tax records (1427 and 2011). It reveals that mobility was surprisingly low in pre-industrial Florence, with significant persistence in both earnings and wealth across generations, particularly in elite occupations. The findings suggest that social status can be highly persistent over very long periods, with a slower convergence of initial statuses than often estimated.