Economic mobility measures the relationship between a parent and child’s economic outcomes, usually in terms of income. Too often, an individual’s economic outcome in the United States is determined by parental resources, race, and privilege, rather than individual effort and talent. In addition, rising economic inequality over the past several decades means that the consequences of stalled or falling economic mobility have gotten worse. Equitable Growth seeks to understand how today’s inequalities could be foreclosing equality of opportunity for future generations.
Featured work
Equitable Growth hosts Econ 101 virtual event on how U.S. social insurance programs boost economic mobility
December 1, 2025
December 1, 2025
Factsheet: U.S. economic mobility and policies to increase upward mobility
June 17, 2025
June 17, 2025
Changing Opportunity: Sociological Mechanisms Underlying Growing Class Gaps and Shrinking Race Gaps in Economic Mobility
October 9, 2025
October 9, 2025
Race and the lack of intergenerational economic mobility in the United States
February 18, 2020
February 18, 2020
Explore Content in Economic Mobility422
New working paper shows long-term U.S. economic and health benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
May 11, 2020
May 11, 2020
The coronavirus recession and economic inequality: A roadmap to recovery and long-term structural change
April 16, 2020
April 16, 2020
Rescuing small businesses to fight the coronavirus recession and prevent further economic inequality in the United States
April 14, 2020
April 14, 2020
The most exposed workers in the coronavirus recession are also key consumers: Making sure they get help is key to fighting the recession
April 8, 2020
April 8, 2020
The Matching Multiplier and the Amplification of Recessions
April 8, 2020
April 8, 2020
The long-term consequences of recessions for U.S. workers
March 30, 2020
March 30, 2020
Reducing maternal labor market detachment: A role for paid family leave
March 12, 2020
March 12, 2020
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