Indeed, in previous studies, cross-sectional inequality has been shown to be related to low intergenerational inequality. Moreover, welfare policies, by targeting disadvantaged family situations - either due to permanent factors or to temporary loss of income (e.g. loss of employment) - reduce cross-sectional inequality, thereby potentially helping to mitigate intergenerational persistence. At the same time, ill-designed taxation and social policies would also perpetuate welfare dependency, with potentially negative effects on social mobility.