1. Equality of opportunity and the importance of family background for economic status (e.g. intergenerational economic mobility): concepts and measurement
2. Theoretical perspectives on family associations in economic status
3. Equality of opportunity and the importance of family background for economic status: policy and institutions
4. The welfare economics of intergenerational mobility and equality of opportunity

The course has two main objectives. First, the course will offer students a broad understanding of different approaches to the study of equality of opportunity and the importance of family status for economic status in current research. Second, the course will stimulate and foster ideas for new research projects related to equality of opportunity, intergenerational mobility and more generally the importance of family background for economic status.

Attendance is required.

During part I, the four lectures are presented and discussed. A reading list with at least one required reading per lecture, clearly marked in the list, will be supplied well ahead of the course. After each lecture, students are requested to submit comments and questions to the lecture before 17:00 the same day. For a positive grade for part I, students will be required to submit a five-page summary of what they have learned, especially about open and unresolved iossues suitable for future research, during the lectures.

During the part II, students will present their own term papers. The term paper outlines and presentations, whose first draft should be submitted no later than 1 June 2024, should, at the minimum, outline and motivate the problem to be examined, discuss the relevant research literature and outline the approach taken to study the problem. Each presentation will be discussed by the other students based on questions and comments submitted ahead of the week. A positive grade for this part will require the submission of a revised term paper.

20%: questions and comments on lectures and other student’s term paper outlines and presentations (parts I and II)
30%: summary of lectures (part I)
50%: term paper (part II)
 

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