Abadi

Among the data's revelations are that in many parts of the Deep South, people have less than a 5% chance of going from the bottom income level to the top. Meanwhile, in many places in the Mountain West region, such as Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, people have more than a 16% chance of accomplishing the feat.

According to Chetty, there are five key factors that go into this geographical disparity: segregation, income inequality, local school quality, social capital, and family structure.

Numerous policy initiatives have been proposed to flatten the gap in upward mobility. Experts have suggested building public housing in low-poverty areas instead of high-poverty areas, which would spur poorer families to move to better neighborhoods and increase their chances of success. Another possibility is expanding school choice by providing vouchers for poor families to attend better-funded schools in rich neighborhoods.

Mark Abadi