Upcoming Event on Economic Mobility

Update (2/9): Check out our data page for more information about the event and data points on economic mobility, inequality, and poverty.

This Friday, the Asset Building Program is hosting an event to discuss the concept of economic mobility and to more thoroughly investigate how economic mobility is defined and the true extent of the problem. Scott Winship, a Fellow in Economic Studies at Brookings, will identify some of the key challenges of defining economic mobility, which stem from a lack of an agreed upon definition of mobility, highly complex data or a lack of data altogether, and political agendas that are not conducive to productive conversations about mobility. Heather McGhee, Director of Demos’ Washington office, and Shawn Fremstad, attorney and Senior Research Associate at the Center for Economic and Policy Research will provide comments on Winship’s ideas and outline appropriate policy responses.

Economic mobility is a topic of great concern for policymakers, advocates, and average Americans alike because it concerns a premise fundamental to American society: the idea that people of all backgrounds should have an equal shot at moving up the ladder of economic success. Confidence in this idea, a pillar of the American Dream, has tremendous power in our psyches. As Scott Winship notes: “Americans are more likely to believe they live in a meritocracy than are residents of other Western nations.” We want to believe that our hard work pays off and our institutions consistently relay this same message to our children.

However, as Winship puts it: “If being raised in the bottom fifth were not a disadvantage and socioeconomic outcomes were random, we would expect to see 20 percent of Americans who started in the bottom fifth remain there as adults, while 20 percent would end up in each of the other fifths. Instead, about 40 percent are unable to escape the bottom fifth.” The appropriate response to this apparent gap in logic is disputed. Given the frequency with which lawmakers and political candidates discuss economic mobility, this conversation could not be more timely.

Join us February 10th at 12:15 pm in person at our office or online at the event page. We look forward to seeing you there.