The USA's social mobility is much worse than the EU's, though. If you're born in the bottom 20% by household income your chance of making it to the top 20% is lower. The proportion of billionaires who inherited their wealth doesn't make any odds to the economic mobility of an ordinary person. It is ridiculous to go from "Overall, heirs and heiresses make up about half of Western Europe's billionaires" to claim "The lack of social mobility is more of a concern" in Europe.
> The study confirms previous findings that America’s social mobility is low compared with many European countries. (In Denmark, a poor child has twice as much chance of making it to the top quintile as in America.)
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21595437-america...
> The study confirms previous findings that America’s social mobility is low compared with many European countries. (In Denmark, a poor child has twice as much chance of making it to the top quintile as in America.)