Brookings: Topics - Economic Mobility

No Reader Left Behind: Improving Media Coverage of Education

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 02, 2009, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

The American educational system is fundamental to promoting social and economic mobility, civic engagement and global competiveness, but the subject of receives less media coverage than other major public policy issues. On December 2, Grover "Russ" Whitehurst and E.J. Dionne, authors of The Disappearance of Education News, will present their solutions for improving education reporting and promoting quality discourse.

Building a Strong, Independent DC Community College

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A report commissioned by Greater Washington Research at Brookings and DC Appleseed underscores the need for a strong community college in the District of Columbia. The report, conducted by JBL Associates, recognizes the steps already taken by the new Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC) and recommends that the city support CCDC in moving towards independence from the University of the District of Columbia, with its own administration, board of trustees, budget and academic accreditation.

Five Myths About Our Land of Opportunity

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Americans have always believed that their country is unique in providing the opportunity to get ahead. Ron Haskins and Isabel Sawhill deconstruct five myths about economic mobility in the United States, saying that we need better policies to help create a true opportunity society.

The Scouting Report Web Chat: Expanding Opportunity in America

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Recent decades have seen sharply rising incomes for the rich, modest progress for the middle class, and little or no progress for the poor. How can more people achieve the American Dream? To address the question, Ron Haskins and Politico senior editor Fred Barbash conducted a live web chat about expanding economic opportunity in America.

The Scouting Report: Expanding Economic Opportunity

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 28, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Recent decades have seen sharply rising incomes for the rich, modest progress for the middle class, and little or no progress for the poor. How can more people achieve the American Dream? On Wednesday, October 28, Ron Haskins and Politico Senior Editor Fred Barbash conducted a live web chat about expanding economic opportunity in America.

Is America Really an Opportunity Society?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 27, 2009, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

On October 27, Ron Haskins and Isabel Sawhill discussed their new book, Creating an Opportunity Society, which explores what it will take to help more people achieve the American Dream.

The Scouting Report Web Chat: Creating Opportunity in America

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, October 14, Sawhill, a Brookings expert and co-author of the recent book Creating an Opportunity Society, answered your questions during a live web chat about what Americans can do to get ahead in today’s turbulent economy. Fred Barbash, senior editor at Politico, moderated the discussion.

The Scouting Report: Creating Opportunity in America

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 14, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Isabel Sawhill, a Brookings expert and co-author of the recent book Creating an Opportunity Society, answered questions during a live web chat about ways to expand the middle class and make upward mobility a reality for families, including: more and better education, more work and strong families. Fred Barbash, senior editor at Politico, moderated the discussion.

Paradox and Perception : Measuring Quality of Life in Latin America

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Paradox and Perception greatly improves our understanding of the determinants of well-being in Latin America based on a broad "quality of life" concept that challenges some standard assumptions in economics, including those about the relationship between happiness and income.

Ordinary Families, Extraordinary Lives : Assets and Poverty Reduction in Guayaquil, 1978-2004

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In Ordinary Families, Extraordinary Lives, Moser shows how a more sophisticated understanding of the complexities of asset accumulation as well as poverty itself can help counter inaccurate stereotypes about global poverty.

Why Are Afghans Smiling?

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Though Afghanistan has been at war much of the last 30 years, Carol Graham and Jeremy Shapiro find that Afghans remain surprisingly happy. Graham and Shapiro believe adaptations to crime and corruption play a major role and argue that better understanding of multiple happiness factors, including Taliban influence, should shape future U.S. strategy in the country.

The Tripling of the PBGC’s Deficit: What Does it Tell Us?

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s deficit tripled over the last six months and could top out at more than $100 billion. According to Douglas Elliott, this accelerated loss is the result of a combination of factors, including the PBGC’s inability—thanks to Congress—to charge premium rates that would cover its risk, and the investment and funding choices made by the companies that sponsor the pension plans insured by the PBGC. Is another massive bailout in store?

A Guide to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As Chrysler and GM face bankruptcy proceedings and restructuring, the Senate held a hearing on whether the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has the capacity to insure the pensions of nearly 44 million Americans who work or have worked at those firms. Douglas Elliott explores the particulars of the PBGC, the precarious situation that the automotive industry finds itself in, and offers 14 possible solutions to the problems that plague the government’s pension program.

Budget 2010: New Investments in Transforming America’s Schools and Workforce

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The detailed FY 2010 federal budget reveals many elements of the administration’s strategy to achieve needed reforms in schooling and worker skills. Alan Berube analyzes the significant steps in the departments of Education and Labor budgets toward a national economic strategy that invests strategically in human capital to improve our collective prosperity.

Budget 2010: Sustainability and Quality Places

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Bradley argues that sustainable growth strengthens existing cities and communities, conserves fiscal and natural resources, and advances U.S. efforts to address climate change and achieve energy independence—a central theme of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program’s Blueprint for American Prosperity

A New Goal for America’s High Schools: College Preparation for All

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In this policy brief, a companion to the volume of The Future of Children devoted to high school reforms, Ron Haskins and James Kemple examine the steps high schools should take to help low-income students prepare for and succeed in college. Specifically, they argue, high schools should boost students’ subject matter knowledge and study skills and counsel students on how to select colleges and obtain financial aid.

Budget 2010: Signaling Changes in Federal Transportation Policy

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Puentes discusses how President Obama’s FY 2010 budget holds the baseline on transportation infrastructure spending with slight increases at the modal agencies at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Budget 2010: A New Embrace of Regional Innovation

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The in-depth versions of President Obama’s first budget released in early May detail a number of significant direct and indirect investments in the innovation capacity of U.S. metropolitan areas. Several of these proposals reflect ideas generated by Metropolitan Policy Program experts.

Promoting Economic Mobility by Increasing Postsecondary Education

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many low-income students miss out on college because they don’t know how much it actually costs or how to get access to billions of dollars in financial aid, says Ron Haskins. That’s why improving the equality of educational opportunity—a traditional American value—is one key to promoting economic mobility for disadvantaged students.

Transforming America’s Community Colleges: A Federal Policy Proposal To Expand Opportunity and Promote Economic Prosperity

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To renew America’s status as the world’s leader in college attainment, the federal government needs to transform America’s community colleges and equip them for the 21st century. This report outlines a structure for this long-overdue investment and proposes to establish national goals and a related performance measurement system; provide resources to drive college performance toward those goals; and stimulate greater innovation to enhance the quality of sub-baccalaureate education.

Well-being and Public Attitudes in Afghanistan: Some Insights from the Economics of Happiness

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In Afghanistan, individuals have to cope with the most adverse of circumstances. Carol Graham and Soumya Chattopadhyay use tools provided by a new approach in economics that relies on surveys of happiness or reported well-being to deepen our understanding of conditions there.They conclude that average happiness scores in Afghanistan are higher than the world average and discuss the implications of this and other findings for policy.

Federal Energy R&D: Do It All - But Differently

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Some say America needs to deploy existing green technology quickly while others say the nation needs to stress new scientific breakthroughs. Mark Muro says both camps are right, and that MPP’s proposal for the federal government to create a series of energy discovery-innovation institutes (e-DIIs) suggests a way to make progress on both counts.

Sustainability and Quality Places

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Bradley argues that sustainable growth strengthens our existing metropolitan areas, conserves fiscal and natural resources and advances our nation’s efforts to address climate change and find alternative sources of energy. She notes how President Obama's first budget advances some of these goals.

Commercial Innovation Gets Nod in Obama’s Budget

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mark Muro explains how President Obama’s first budget makes important gestures toward putting commercial innovation at the center of national economic concern.

Saving and Wealth Accumulation in the PSID, 1984-2005

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This paper by Barry Bosworth and Sarah Anders reports on a project to construct and evaluate a wealth and saving dataset for those households who responded to the supplementary wealth and active saving modules of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) over the period of 1984 to 2005.

New Budget Marks Shift in Transportation Policy

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Puentes discusses how President Obama’s FY 2010 budget marks a shift in transportation policy, especially in mass transit. One proposal to create and fund a National Infrastructure would provide financial assistance to qualified and innovative infrastructure projects—from road and rails to ports and pipes—that matter to the nation as a whole or to a group of multiple states.

Human Capital and Support for Low-Income Workers

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Alan Berube analyzes how President Obama's first budget places hopeful new emphasis on graduating more students from college. Community colleges enroll increasing numbers of students, but for several reasons fail to graduate most of them—particularly those from lower-income backgrounds—through to a degree or certificate.

The Future of Middle-Skill Jobs

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Harry J. Holzer and Robert I. Lerman analyze the likely trends in supply and demand for workers with different levels of education and training over the next decade and beyond. They present data on the current distributions of jobs and wages, and how these distributions have evolved in the recent past, and also review projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on future demand by occupation.

Can Metropolitan Leaders Make the Stimulus Package Work?

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama’s economic recovery package will succeed to the extent it juices metropolitan areas, the true engines of the U.S. economy. Mark Muro and Sarah Rahman argue that, for all the business-as-usual in Washington, the disconnected funding flows of the stimulus will strengthen the cause of regionalism in America.

Delivering Metropolitan Stimulus

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A historic fiscal experiment in this country will evolve in the weeks, months and years ahead as a $790 billion stimulus package is spent to revive America’s economy. Metropolitan Policy Program experts suggest how this money might be strategically deployed to invigorate our nation’s metropolitan areas, the sources of national prosperity.

Evaluating Micro-Survey Estimates of Wealth and Saving

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Barry Bosworth and Rosanna Smart presents an overview of changes in household wealth accumulation and saving using wealth data from three micro-level surveys. They provide comparisons to the macroeconomic estimates of wealth accumulation and saving, explore problems in constructing household-level valuations of wealth, and assess the value of using household-level datasets to examine wealth accumulation and saving behavior in the United States.

How to Reverse the Trend of Concentrated Poverty

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Alan Berube urges policy-makers to evaluate short-term opportunities and set long-term strategies in order to help Cleveland’s next generation of residents overcome the challenges of concentrated poverty.

Fighting Poverty in the Land of Opportunity

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With unemployment rising, more families feel squeezed this holiday season than ever. Rebecca Blank urges the new president to consider a plan to support low-wage workers, ensure an effective safety net and create opportunities in high-poverty neighborhoods that might guarantee American families more on their tables in the seasons ahead.

Improve the Poverty Measure

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Rebecca Blank and Mark Greenberg recommend the adoption of a new poverty measure, along the lines recommended by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), in order to provide a more accurate measure of economic need in the United States.

The Scouting Report: Decrease Poverty and Increase Opportunity

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 26, 2008, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Too many Americans leave school with inadequate skills, and too many working families struggle to make ends meet. Greater investments in economic opportunity are needed to reduce poverty and increase future economic mobility for today’s poor children. On Wednesday, November 26, Brookings Senior Fellow Rebecca Blank answered questions during a web chat with Politico about poverty in the United States and creating opportunities for American families.

Memo to the President: Decrease Poverty and Increase Opportunity

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A major economic slowdown adds to the problems of lower-income Americans, who have not shared in the economic growth of the last decade. Greater investments in economic mobility and opportunity are needed. Rebecca Blank offers policy solutions and priorities for the president-elect to make greater investments in economic mobility and opportunity.

The Impact of Increases in Pell Grant Awards on College-going among Lower Income Youth

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

David Mundel and Lois Rice discuss the results of a recent experiment about the effect of grant programs on college attendance among lower-income youth.

Decrease Poverty and Increase Opportunity

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 24, 2008, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

A major economic slowdown adds to the problems of lower-income Americans, who have not shared in the economic growth of the last decade. On November 24, Brookings senior fellow Rebecca Blank offered policy solutions and priorities for the president-elect to make greater investments in economic mobility and opportunity.

Path to Prosperity

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Today, too many Americans are not fully sharing in our nation’s prosperity. Real median wages have stagnated, income inequality has increased, and changes in the economy that have brought benefits have also brought new risks and insecurities. In response to these challenges, our nation needs to act now on three fronts. First, our nation must make the right long-term investments to promote economic growth that is both strong and sustainable. Second, it is necessary to put in place economic policies that will better achieve broad-based participation in that growth. Third, for growth to be sustainable, it is necessary to restore sound fiscal policy, moving on a multiyear path to a sustainable fiscal position. This paper elaborates on these economic challenges.

The Limits On Economic Mobility

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The past few decades have led to more inequality in both income and wealth than we have seen since the late 1920s. Despite this, Americans seem to care more about equality of opportunity than about equality of outcomes. Julia Isaacs and Isabel Sawhill describe ways to ensure greater equality of opportunity and economic mobility.

Stalled Youth Transitions in the Middle East

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The confluence of economic growth in the Middle East and millions of youth ready to hit the job market could be a recipe for prosperity. However, young people are encountering numerous obstacles. Navtej Dhillon, Director of the Middle East Youth Initiative, and Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Visiting Fellow at the Wolfensohn Center for Development, argue that the root cause of youth exclusion lies in the institutions that mediate transitions from school to work and family formation.

Brookings Launches Africa Growth Initiative with Grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:06:19 GMT

The Brookings Institution today announced the formation of a new research initiative on Africa’s development challenges that aims to draw more heavily on knowledge and analysis of African researchers. The Africa Growth Initiative, established in part with a $5.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will significantly expand Brookings’s expertise on development policy in and towards Africa, and begin to build stronger relationships between the Institution and the African policy and research community.

Quality Schools, Healthy Neighborhoods, and the Future of DC

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New analysis by Greater Washington Research at Brookings, the Urban Institute and 21st Century School Fund argues that Washington, DC can become a more family-friendly city by linking its investments and policies in public schools, affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization together.

How We Measure Poverty

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. government's method of measuring poverty, established in 1964, is badly outdated and leads to an inaccurate picture of who is, and is not, poor in America. If we want to debate new policies to help the poor, Rebecca Blank argues that we first need a poverty measure that shows us who they really are.

The 'Union for the Mediterranean:' The Next Generation of Europe-Middle East Cooperation?

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Navtej Dhillon and Diana Greenwald argue that, despite a difficult political climate, the 'Union for the Mediterranean' can exceed expectations by convening European and Arab leaders around a pressing and shared interest: the need to improve economic outcomes for millions of young people in the broader Middle East.

Economic Stimulus Act: Hard to Kill Two Birds with One Stone

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The bipartisan economic stimulus package was a straightforward application of Keynesian fiscal policy: Spend your way out of recession. However, some might wonder if it’s possible to design a stimulus package that could also reduce inequality. In this paper, Ron Haskins explains why targeted stimulus may reduce poverty in the short run but cannot substitute for investments that will reduce inequality in the long run.

Has Poverty Increased in Iran Under Ahmadinejad?

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Contrary to recent findings by the Central Bank of Iran, Brookings Djavad Salehi-Isfahani argues poverty rates in Iran are not high when compared to international standards for developing countries, nor do they appear to be rising. However, income inequality is on the rise and poses a challenge to President Ahmadinejad in his 2009 re-election bid.

Why the United States Needs an Improved Measure of Poverty

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Rebecca Blank testified before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the House Committee on Ways and Means on the need for an improved measure of poverty in the United States. She stated that our current poverty line is based on data more than 50 years old and our poverty count does not measure the actual resources that many families have available to them.

Why Washington Needs a Community College

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Writing in the Washington Post, Brookings’ Alice M. Rivlin and Walter Smith of DC Appleseed argue that a community college should be established in the District of Columbia.

How to Improve Poverty Measurement in the United States

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this paper, Rebecca Blank discusses the reasons why the current official U.S. poverty measure is outdated and nonresponsive to many anti-poverty initiatives. The paper ends with four recommended steps that would allow the U.S. to improve its measurement of poverty and economic need.

UK Urban Policy Innovations and Lessons for the U.S.

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The United Kingdom has moved aggressively at the national level over the past decade to strengthen the performance of its major cities and urban areas. In light of their success, Alan Berube and Chris Webber outline several lessons for American efforts to create a smarter metropolitan policy that will bolster U.S. economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Envisioning Opportunity: Three Options for a Community College in Washington, D.C.

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Of the 50 largest cities in the United States, Washington, D.C. is the only one without a fully fledged community college. Washington needs a community college in order to provide all District residents with increased opportunities for employment and further education in an affordable and flexible manner, argue the authors of this report, who offer three options for creating a community college in the nation's capital.

Iran's Economy: Short Term Performance and Long Term Potential

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In recent remarks at a Congressional staff briefing hosted by Security for a New Century, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani addressed current trends in Iran’s economy. He noted that high levels of investment, an increasingly active private sector, low poverty levels, and a lively public debate on the economy provide hope for long-term stability and development. Yet high levels of youth unemployment, especially among women, and weak institutions remain areas for concern.

Can the Middle East Build a Global Middle Class?

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President Bush recently returned from his five day tour in the Middle East where he spoke at the World Economic Forum about aligning economic growth with political reform. Navtej Dhillon and Djavad Salehi Isfahani of the Middle East Youth Initiative examine the role of the middle class in the context of a regional oil boom and a demographic boon.

Capital Account Liberalization, Real Wages, and Productivity

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In new research, Peter Blair Henry shows the benefits of stock market opening for developing countries.

New Economy Safety Net: A Proposal to Enhance Worker Adjustment Programs

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite profound economic changes over recent years, America’s job-transition, or worker adjustment, program remains one of the weakest among advanced economies. Lael Brainard proposes fundamental changes in the nation’s programs in order to provide enhanced training and financial support to help American workers compete.

Economic Mobility in America

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 20, 2008, 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM

A comprehensive look at the trends and issues that drive economic opportunity in America was released last month in a new volume by Brookings experts, "Getting Ahead or Losing Ground: Economic Mobility in America." On March 20, the Center on Children and Families at Brookings and the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Economic Mobility Project held a forum to discuss the findings on gender, race, immigration, and families in addition to new findings on education, international comparisons, trends, and wealth.

Ask Candidates How They'll Help Fix Michigan

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The federal government should be an active partner in Southeast Michigan's recovery towards economic transformation.

What Should the Next President Do about Poverty?

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 05, 2008, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

How can the next president reduce poverty and increase economic opportunity? This question was the subject of a forum on March 5 sponsored by the Center on Children and Families at Brookings, the Center for the Study of Poverty and Inequality at Stanford, and the Spotlight on Poverty Campaign.

Brookings Global Young Professionals Program Launch

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

February 27, 2008, 12:00 PM to 12:00

The Global Economy and Development program at Brookings hosted the inaugural meeting of its Global Young Professionals Program on February 27, featuring Matt Flannery, CEO and co-founder of Kiva.org, the world's first person-to-person micro-lending Web site.

We Need Washington: Some of North Texas' Problems Are Too Big To Go It Alone

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz and Don Williams argue that the federal government needs to refresh its perspective on the way it supports metropolitan areas across America, such as the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, by harnessing new ideas on innovation, infrastructure, human capital and education that will help fuel prosperity.

Getting Ahead or Losing Ground: Economic Mobility in America

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Is America still the land of opportunity and mobility? How much opportunity to get ahead actually exists in America? Brookings scholars Julia Isaacs, Isabel Sawhill and Ron Haskins provide new evidence and summarize research on both the extent of intergenerational mobility in the United States and the factors that influence it.

Economic Mobility

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:44:37 GMT

Economic inequality across American households has been growing for a number of years. Isabel Sawhill, co-director of the Center on Children and Families and co-author of Getting Ahead or Losing Ground: Economic Mobility in America examines how upwardly mobile we really are.

Russia's Virtual Economy

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The virtual economy was the system of informal rent-distribution that arose in post-Soviet Russia in the 1990s as nonviable Soviet-era manufacturing industries sought to protect themselves from the discipline of the market. The article discusses the system’s historical roots, describes some of its characteristic phenomena, and outlines a model for behavior of enterprises.

Russia Resurgent: The Once and Future Superpower

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Fueled by rising revenues from its vast oil reserves, Russia is experiencing a sudden comeback from its economic and political collapse just sixteen years ago. This program will consider what Russia’s re-emergence as a global force could mean for the already diminishing constraints of arms control and for a renewed power struggle between Russia and the U.S. in an increasingly multi-polar world. Brookings Scholar Clifford Gaddy speaks about Russia, past and present.

The Evolution of Household Income Volatility

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) reveals that household income has become noticeably more volatile during the past thirty years. Senior Fellow Doug Elmendorf with Karen Dynan and Daniel Sichel from the Federal Reserve Board estimate that the standard deviation of percent changes in household income rose one-fourth between the early 1970s and early 2000s.

The Middle-Class Squeeze

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Expert Gregg Easterbrook and Harvard Law School's Elizabeth Warren discuss the squeeze on the American middle class.

Egypt’s Economic Prosperity: A Prospect for Hope or Potential for Shattered Dreams?

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Fellow Navtej Dhillon discusses Egypt's economic prosperity and whether the country's youth will see the benefits of job acceleration.

Attacking Poverty and Inequality

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:14:50 GMT

In the late 1990s, Congress and President Clinton collaborated on bi-partisan legislation that led to a substantial decline in child poverty in the United States – especially in African-American communities. Ron Haskins explains that the next president should reinvigorate the fight against poverty through increasing benefits while requiring more personal responsibility.

Happiness And Health: Lessons—And Questions—For Public Policy

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Carol Graham reviews the happiness-health relationship from aneconomics perspective, highlighting the role of adaptation.

Reward and Facilitate Work

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Although the overall economy has grown reasonably well in the last six years, the gains have not filtered down and the share of Americans in poverty has risen. Jason Furman suggests policy improvements to better facilitate the American dream.

Facilitating and Rewarding Work

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 12, 2007, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

On December 12, the Hamilton Project at Brookings hosted a two-part forum at the National Press Club on ways to encourage, facilitate and reward work. Besides releasing a new Hamilton Project strategy paper, the forum highlighted four new and forthcoming discussion papers.

Opportunity 08: Better Direction on Main Street

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:15:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 03, 2007, 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM

From the individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) to an unstable mortgage market, many middle-class American families are at risk of losing their footing in today’s economy. Saving rates are at an all-time low and rising health premiums can render basic care unaffordable to even full-time workers. Opportunity 08 explores what the next President can and should do to promote individuals’ economic success and a sound middle class.

The Frayed American Dream

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A sharp rise in income inequality in the United States has created large gaps between the haves and the have-nots. Based on new Brookings research, most of today’s adults are better off than their own parents were when they were growing up. The converse: one third remains worse off. Many middle-class families are only one earner away from poverty. Isabel Sawhill and Julia Isaacs argue that America could and should do better, through better access to education, including early childhood education.

The American Dream for Some

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Julia Isaacs discussed her new report which found that two out of three Americans are making more money today than their parents did in the '60s, but for African-American men, that statistic is much lower.

Economic Mobility of Men and Women

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Julia Isaacs reviews overall income trends based on Census Bureau data and provides an intergenerational analysis based on a longitudinal data set that allows a direct match of the family income of parents in the late 1960s to their children’s family income in the late 1990s to early 2000s.

Economic Mobility of Black and White Families

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Julia Isaacs explores the differences between white and black families with regard to economic success and income mobility.

Economic Mobility of Families Across Generations

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Julia B. Isaacs takes a comprehensive view of economic mobility, asking questions about both absolute and relative mobility.

The Odyssey Years: The Changing 20s

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In 1960, roughly 70 percent of 30-year-olds were married, financially independent and starting a family. By 2000, fewer than 40 percent of 30-year-olds had done the same. William Galston discusses the trend and implications.

Welfare to (Non-Traditional) Work?

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Ron Haskins (08/03/07)

Immigration: Wages, Education and Mobility

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Report by Ron Haskins (July 2007)

Father's Day Lessons

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Isabel V. Sawhill (06/08/07)

Broken Contract

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Jason Bordoff (Summer 2007)

The Evolution of Household Income Volatility

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Using data from the PSID, we find that household income has become noticeably more volatile during the past thirty years. We estimate that the standard deviation of percent changes in household income rose one-fourth between the early 1970s and early 2000s.

The Rise Of the Bottom Fifth: How to Build on the Gains Of Welfare Reform

Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Ron Haskins (05/29/07)

Economic Mobility: Is the American Dream Alive and Well?

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For more than two centuries, economic opportunity and the prospect of upward mobility have formed the bedrock upon which the American story has been anchored — inspiring people in distant lands to seek our shores and sustaining the unwavering optimism of Americans at home.

The Wedding Shortage

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Marriage, long the centerpiece of Middle Eastern life, is in crisis. The reason: a new generation of young men cannot afford to marry--a fact that's destined to exacerbate many of the region's social and political problems.

Pathways to the Middle Class: Ensuring Greater Upward Mobility for All Americans

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Middle-class prosperity is the cornerstone of the American Dream. Americans believe that through hard work and education families can enter the middle class and keep on climbing. However, recent evidence shows that, even with a rebounding U.S. econom

Attacking Poverty and Inequality: Reinvigorate the Fight for Greater Opportunity

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Although the nation's poverty rate is higher now than it was in the 1970s, no President since Lyndon Johnson has made fighting poverty a major plank of his campaign or goal of his administration. With large and growing gaps between the rich and the poor, it is now time for presidential campaigns and the next President to focus on poverty and inequality in America.

Success By Ten: Intervening Early, Often, and Effectively in the Education of Young Children

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Success by Ten is a proposed program designed to help every child achieve success in school by age ten. It calls for a major expansion and intensification of Head Start and Early Head Start, so that every disadvantaged child has the opportunity to enroll in a high-quality program of education and care during the first five years of his or her life. Because the benefits of this intensive intervention may be squandered if disadvantaged children go from this program to a low-quality elementary school, the second part of the proposal requires that schools devote their Title I spending to instructional programs that have proven effective in further improving the skills of children, especially their ability to read.

Has U.S. Income Inequality Really Increased?

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Gary Burtless (January 11, 2007)

Brookings Trade Forum: 2006 : Global Labor Markets?

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The ninth issue of the Brookings Trade Forum brings together some of the foremost experts on migration, representing diverse perspectives and backgrounds.

The Future of Children: Fall 2006 : Opportunity in America

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:00:00 GMT

This semiannual journal provides research and analysis to promote effective policies and programs for children. In this volume, the nation's leading scholars on social mobility focus on the extent to which children’s chances of success depend on the circumstances into which they are born.

Opportunity in America: The Role of Education

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Stagnating incomes for the middle class together with rising income inequality have raised questions about whether the United States remains the land of opportunity celebrated in the nation's history and public philosophy. This brief reviews the evidence on intergenerational mobility and the role of education in enabling less advantaged children to move up the economic ladder.

A Growth-Enhancing Approach to Economic Security

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Bordoff, Deich, and Orszag (September 2006)

Moving On Up? Economic Mobility in America

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Panel discussion at Center for American Progress (April 26, 2006)

MS. ISABEL SAWHILL: Thank you. I also want to thank the Center for the opportunity to be here. This topic is a very long and deep interest of mine. I wrote a book on it in 1998, which got zero attention, which just shows you that journalists have more power than you think because in my view it wasn't until the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post took up this issue that it began to be given the attention to which it deserves.

An Economic Strategy to Advance Opportunity, Prosperity, and Growth

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Americans' long-held belief that education and hard work advances each generation's outlook has provided a powerful incentive for industrious activity, spurring the unprecedented economic growth that the United States has enjoyed for more than two centuries. Yet the fundamental principle that all citizens should have an opportunity to succeed is at risk today because the nation is neither paying its way nor investing adequately in its future. The Hamilton Project at Brookings advances innovative policy ideas for improving our nation's economic policy.

Mobility and Place: Lessons from the United States for the United Kingdom

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

In this presentation at an Institute for Public Policy Research forum convened at the UK Treasury, Alan Berube discusses the evidence from the United States on social mobility, the potential role of neighborhoods in influencing that mobility, and implications for UK policies designed to enhance mobility for disadvantaged individuals and communities.

Still the Land of Opportunity?

Mon, 01 Mar 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Isabel V. Sawhill, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies

Getting Ahead: Economic and Social Mobility in America

Fri, 01 May 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Book by Isabel V. Sawhill and Daniel P. McMurrer, The Urban Institute, 1998