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
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February 18, 2020
Factsheet: What the research says about the economic impacts of reproductive care
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Explore Content in Economic Mobility403
Mitigating the impact of wildfires on homes is critical to improving U.S. economic outcomes
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Testimony by Michelle Holder before the Joint Economic Committee on robust government investments
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April 27, 2022
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will bring new perspectives on mass incarceration to U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence
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April 7, 2022
Stratification economics: What it is and how it advances our understanding of inequality
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Expert Focus: Scholars examining anti-racist ideas and proposals across U.S. economic policy areas
February 24, 2022
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How Black activists spurred the U.S. government to expand school meal programs, addressing child hunger and boosting future productivity
February 22, 2022
February 22, 2022
Is moving to a new place key to upward mobility for U.S. workers and their families?
February 14, 2022
February 14, 2022
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