DYNAMIC CAREER MODELS AND INEQUALITY RESEARCH - A REEXAMINATION OF THE SORENSEN MODEL

This article presents a reexamination of the Sorensen model. This model derives the pattern of individual careers from structural consideration. If longitudinal data on individual careers are available, Sorensen's model provides two methods to infer the underlying structural parameter. This structural parameter gives a useful measure for unequal career chances. An implementation of these methods, using firm data, shows, however, that they lead to contradictory conclusions, this is shown to be the result of some unrealistic assumptions Sorensen uses in his derivation. Some more realistic assumptions are suggested that produce reasonable results. Finally, it is shown that despite these modifications, the main conclusion of the Sorensen model are preserved This seems to be promising for future work with this model.