Economic and mechanical models of intergenerational transmission.

The author critically examines Gary Beckers attempt to integrate the theory of income distribution (intragenerational differences) with the theory of mobility (intergenerational differences) in an economic model of the He assesses Beckers claims of distinctiveness integration explanatory power and surprise and [arrives] at a rather skeptical view of the contribution that the core of microeconomics has made to this study of the family. A reply by Becker is included (pp. 514-8). (EXCERPT)