Global Estimates of Opportunity and Mobility (GEOM)

GEOM measures inherited inequality across countries and time, using advanced statistical methods to enhance comparability and guide research and policy priorities.

GEOM is a research initiative led by the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics and the University of Bari, in collaboration with other global partners. The website platform allows users to explore how different inherited traits shape life chances across countries and over time. It presents estimates of the importance of inherited inequality – measured as inequality of opportunity (IOp) – across 72 countries using 196 household surveys, in some cases spanning over four decades. GEOM uses on-the-edge statistical methods to compare outcomes across population subgroups defined by circumstances such as parental education and occupation, race or ethnicity, caste, sex, and place of birth. These measures help quantify the share of income or consumption inequality attributable to these factors beyond individual’s control, approximating a notion of “unfair inequality”. GEOM also highlights which population groups are most disadvantaged and provides a basis for identifying policy priorities. Future versions aim to expand the country measures and incorporate intergenerational mobility indicators, further linking IOp to broader patterns of inequality and social immobility.

GEOM database

Paolo Brunori – London School of Economics

Francisco H.G. Ferreira – London School of Economics

Vito Peragine – Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” – Department of Economics and Finance

Pedro Salas-Rojo – London School of Economics

Luis Barajas – National Planning Department of Colombia

Teresa Barbieri – Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” – Department of Economics and Finance

Gaurav Datt – Monash University – Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability

Nancy Daza-Báez – University College London

Fabio Farella – Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” – Department of Economics and Finance

Arturo Martinez Jr. – Asian Development Bank – Economic Research and Development Impact Department

Domenico Moramarco – Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” – Department of Economics and Finance

John Nguyen – Monash University – Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability

Albert Park – Asian Development Bank – Economic Research and Development Impact Department

Vito de Sandi – Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” – Department of Economics and Finance

Enza Simeone – University of Turin (ESOMAS)

Pedro Torres López – London School of Economics

Giorgia Zotti – Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” – Department of Economics and Finance

Louis Sirugue – London School of Economics

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Global Estimates of Opportunity and Mobility (GEOM)

Global Estimates of Opportunity and Mobility (GEOM) is a data and research project that produces and presents information on the extent of inherited inequality for as many countries and time periods as feasible, as comparably as possible.

Team

Wealth, Elites and Tax Justice Find out more about the research theme headed by Professor Mike Savage