Long-Term Study of Prospera on Intergenerational Occupational Mobility

85 Pages Posted: 12 Sep 2019 Last revised: 13 Nov 2019

See all articles by Iliana Yaschine

Iliana Yaschine

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Delfino Vargas

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Curtis Huffman

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Hiram Carreno

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Ulises Ramon Navarro Hernandez

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Tlacaelel Mendoza

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Date Written: September 10, 2019

Abstract

Two decades after the inception of Mexico's conditional cash transfer program, PROSPERA, this study analyzes the intergenerational occupational mobility and occupational attainment of a group of rural beneficiary youths between ages 18 and 35 years, segmented into subgroups by sex, ethnic background and migratory status. Furthermore, it evaluates if a higher intensity of PROSPERA's treatment increases the equality of labor opportunities for the youths. Half of the youths achieved upward mobility relative to their occupation of origin, but, at the same time, there also was a high probability of having an occupation in a lower stratum of the occupational hierarchy, experiencing high occupational inheritance and barriers to climbing the social ladder. The variables related to social origin have a significant correlation with the occupational destinations of the youths, although their education, first occupation and cognitive abilities are factors that, altogether, have a greater weight and may reduce the effect of social origins on occupational destinations. Women and migrants present the highest rates of upward mobility and greater equality in labor opportunities, compared to men and non-migrants, respectively. No differences due to ethnicity were found. The findings on the effects of PROSPERA suggest that higher levels of treatment intensity may generate greater probabilities of better occupations, although this effect is considered modest. The results are only valid for the analyzed subpopulation and reflect a reduced difference in the treatment intensity, which must not be considered as the complete effect of the program's intervention.

Suggested Citation

Yaschine, Iliana and Vargas, Delfino and Huffman, Curtis and Carreno, Hiram and Navarro Hernandez, Ulises Ramon and Mendoza, Tlacaelel, Long-Term Study of Prospera on Intergenerational Occupational Mobility (September 10, 2019). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 8999, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3450895

Iliana Yaschine (Contact Author)

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Circuito Mario de la Cueva s/n
Lomas de las Palmas, 52760
Mexico

Delfino Vargas

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Circuito Mario de la Cueva s/n
Lomas de las Palmas, 52760
Mexico

Curtis Huffman

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) ( email )

Circuito Mario de la Cueva s/n
Lomas de las Palmas, 52760
Mexico

Hiram Carreno

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Circuito Mario de la Cueva s/n
Lomas de las Palmas, 52760
Mexico

Ulises Ramon Navarro Hernandez

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Circuito Mario de la Cueva s/n
Lomas de las Palmas, 52760
Mexico

Tlacaelel Mendoza

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Circuito Mario de la Cueva s/n
Lomas de las Palmas, 52760
Mexico

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