A class of Markov models of social mobility with duration memory patterns

This paper proposes a class of Markov models of social mobility with duration memory. Several new duration memory structures as well as existing models, such as the Cornell model, are shown to be special cases of the general model. The model is also extended to heterogeneous populations thereby permitting age specific variants. Alternative axioms to cumulative inertia are included, pointing to new possibilities for duration specific modeling such as futuristic “memory” for currently planned programs. Given that duration effects are widespread and quite varied, the general model provides multiple possibilities for theoretically structuring these processes.