부산대학교 도서관

The article argues that although discussions of inequality among families and discussions of inequality between generations of the same family have been almost entirely separated, they are analytically closely related. In particular, regression away from the mean in the relation between the incomes of parents and children would be associated with large and growing inequality of income over time, while regression toward the mean would be associated with a smaller and more stable degree of inequality. An analysis that is adequate to cope with the many aspects of the rise and fall of families must incorporate, among other things, concern by parents for children, as expressed in altruism toward children, assortative mating in marriage markets, the demand for children, the treatment by parents of exceptionally able or handicapped children, and expectations about events in the next or even later generations. Some children have an advantage because they are born into families with greater ability, with greater emphasis on childhood learning, and with other favorable cultural and genetic attributes.