Panel Data Estimation of the Intergenerational Correlation of Incomes

We consider the problem of estimating the intergenerational correlation of incomes in the context of a panel data framework with measurement errors. We present single equation estimation methods as well as system methods under various assumptions regarding the serial correlation of the error term and taking into account possible correlations among children of the same family. Application to a sample of US parents and children leads to estimates of the order of 0.42 to 0.60 for the coefficient of income transmission.