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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.

View the GEOM database

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.

  • Dr Paolo Brunori, Associate Professorial Research Fellow, LSE III and Associate Professor of Public Economics, University of Florence
  • Professor Francisco H.G. Ferreira, Amartya Sen Professor of Inequality Studies and Director, International Inequalities Institute, LSE
  • Professor Vito Peragine, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Bari Aldo Moro
  • Dr Pedro Salas-Rojo, Visiting Fellow, International Inequalities Institute, LSE
  • Luis Barajas, Evaluation Advisor, National Planning Department of Colombia
  • Teresa Barbieri, Researcher, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro
  • Gaurav Datt, Associate Professor, Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability, Monash University
  • Dr Nancy Daza-Báez, Research Fellow, University College London
  • Dr Fabio Farella, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Economics and Finance, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro
  • Arturo Martinez Jr, Senior Statistician, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Dr Domenico Moramarco, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Bari Aldo Moro
  • John Nguyen, Research Assistant, Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability, Monash University
  • Dr Albert Park, Chief Economist, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Vito de Sandi, PhD Candidate, Department of Economics and Finance, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro
  • Dr Enza Simeone, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Turin (ESOMAS)
  • Pedro Torres López, PhD Candidate, Department of Social Policy, LSE
  • Dr Giorgia Zotti, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Economics and Finance, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro
  • Dr Louis Sirugue, Research Officer, International Inequalities Institute, LSE