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
Wealth as a driver of income and consumption mobility in the United States
June 7, 2023
June 7, 2023
New research suggests that social circles affect upward mobility among U.S. children and young adults
September 7, 2022
September 7, 2022
Race and the lack of intergenerational economic mobility in the United States
February 18, 2020
February 18, 2020
Factsheet: What the research says about the economic impacts of reproductive care
June 27, 2022
June 27, 2022
Explore Content in Economic Mobility403
The economic benefits of equal opportunity in the United States by ending racial, ethnic, and gender disparities
June 29, 2021
June 29, 2021
New research shows slavery’s central role in U.S. economic growth leading up to the Civil War
June 24, 2021
June 24, 2021
The evidence behind Biden’s big plans for rebuilding infrastructure, reducing poverty, and combating inequality
April 29, 2021
April 29, 2021
The American Dream is less of a reality today in the United States, compared to other peer nations
April 28, 2021
April 28, 2021
Trends in Absolute Income Mobility in North America and Europe
April 28, 2021
April 28, 2021
Measuring what matters: Zeroing in on Latina women to address persistent low Hispanic homeownership rates in the United States
April 19, 2021
April 19, 2021
Equitable Growth network helps Biden-Harris administration implement evidence-backed economic policy
March 30, 2021
March 30, 2021
The child allowance will pay dividends for the entire U.S. economy far into the future
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
Explore the Equitable Growth network of experts around the country and get answers to today's most pressing questions!