At the heart of the American dream is a simple, powerful belief: that our children will live better lives than we did. We call it economic mobility, the chance for the next generation to climb higher, achieve more, and fulfill the promise of a brighter future.
But for far too many children born into poverty, that dream feels less like a promise and more like a distant fantasy.
Harvard economist Raj Chetty and his team have spent years studying what really drives economic mobility. By analyzing the lives of millions of Americans, their research uncovered a striking truth: where you grow up can make or break your chance at a better life.
Picture two neighborhoods, side by side. In one, children rise, finding opportunities that lift them beyond their parents’ circumstances. In the other, children remain trapped in cycles of poverty. What makes the difference? It’s not just grit, talent, or even parental income. It’s the environment. It’s the community.
Chetty’s research shows that in communities where parents are working, children, even those whose own parents are unemployed are far more likely to succeed. Growing up surrounded by people with jobs creates a ripple effect. It builds a sense of possibility. It shows kids, day after day, what it looks like to contribute, to belong, to be part of something larger than yourself.
But the opposite is just as powerful. In places where employment declines, children slip further down the ladder. These aren’t statistics. These are real kids whose dreams eroded by the very environment they live in.
One of the most eye-opening findings from Chetty’s work is what he calls a “reversal of fortunes.” Poor white children born in 1992 are worse off, on average, then those born in 1978, especially in regions like the Midwest that have seen sharp job losses. Meanwhile, poor Black children over the same period have shown signs of upward mobility. This isn’t about one group gaining at another’s expense. It’s proof that change is possible and that the American dream isn’t gone, but fragile.
The lesson is clear: economic mobility isn’t just an academic concept. It’s a call to action. If we want to ensure that every child has a fair shot at success, we must invest in our communities. We must pay attention to early warning signs like falling employment rates, declining institutions, or fraying social bonds. And we must step in before the dream slips further from reach.
The American dream is resilient, but it isn’t automatic. It’s something we have to fight for together. Because when one child rises, we all rise. That’s the power of community. That’s the promise of economic mobility. And that’s the future we owe the next generation.
Always Forward.
