Intergenerational Persistence News Today

The American dream promises upward mobility.But a child born in poverty in America is more likely to face poverty in adulthood than in many Western countries.

New research shows that, notwithstanding its position as the richest economy in the world, the US has the poorest record (among the rich countries) of alleviating poverty from one generation to another. The trouble lies in the US government’s policy choices — something that India must not copy.

A recent study finds that social inequality persists, regardless of educational achievement – particularly for men. “Education is not the equalizer that many people think it is,” says Anna Manzoni, author of the study and an associate professor of sociology at North Carolina State University. The study aimed to determine the extent to which a parent’s social status gives an advantage to their children. The research used the educational achievements of parents as a proxy for social statu...

Lance Lochner Children from well-off families are healthier than poor children. The positive connection between family socioeconomic status (SES) and children’s health has been documented in a large number of studies from different countries (for an overview, see Currie 2009). The connection is not limited to childhood. The positive correlation between family resources and health continues through a child’s adult years and translates into higher mortality rates for individuals from disadvan...