Social Mobility in the Long Run: An Analysis of Tongcheng, China, 1300 to 1900

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Carol H. Shiue, University of Colorado Boulder

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
Figures.dta application/x-stata-dta 5.9 MB 02/14/2024 02:30:PM
Replication File.do text/plain 12.6 KB 04/24/2024 04:00:PM
Replication.dta application/x-stata-dta 769.9 KB 02/15/2025 04:12:PM
Table4.dta application/x-stata-dta 5.8 MB 02/15/2025 04:23:PM
Tongcheng Sample and All Pop.dta application/x-stata-dta 19 KB 02/15/2025 04:12:PM

Project Citation: 

Shiue, Carol H. . Social Mobility in the Long Run: An Analysis of Tongcheng, China, 1300 to 1900. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2025-02-16. https://doi.org/10.3886/E219543V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary This paper studies the strength of the relationship between parental income and child income over the period 1300 to 1900, when many social changes, such as the erosion of hereditary class barriers, took place. The rich information in genealogies are used to examine social mobility across a representative socioeconomic population of ranging from commoners to elites. The results indicate, first, that intergenerational mobility in this sample population changed over time. Second, the changes correspond to a substantially higher level of mobility in the 19th century compared to the 17th century. Third, an inverse correlation between mobility and inequality can be seen in the time-series, implying social mobility for birth cohorts characterized by high inequality tends to be low, and vice versa. 

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms Social Mobility; Income Inequality; Ming-Qing Economic History
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage China
Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 1300 – 1900


Related Publications

Release of this data has been delayed until 02/16/2028 at the request of the depositor.

Published Versions

V1 [2025-02-16]

Export Metadata

Dublin Core

DDI 2.5

Report a Problem

Found a serious problem with the data, such as disclosure risk or copyrighted content? Let us know.

This material is distributed exactly as it arrived from the data depositor. ICPSR has not checked or processed this material. Users should consult the investigator(s) if further information is desired.