Abstract

September 6, 2024, Video: "How can we improve economic opportunities for children growing up in low-income families? This talk will present findings from a recent set of studies that use various sources of big data — ranging from anonymized tax records to social network data — to understand the science of economic opportunity. Among other topics, the talk will discuss how and why children’s chances of climbing the income ladder vary across neighborhoods, the drivers of racial disparities in economic mobility, how highly selective colleges may amplify the persistence of privilege, and the role of social capital as a driver of upward mobility. The talk will conclude by giving examples of how academic research using big data is informing policy decisions from the local to federal level to expand opportunities for all."