Economic mobility is a double-edged sword. On one hand, a belief in economic self-determination—the ability to move up through the economic spectrum by dint of hard work—lies at the core of the American Dream. On the other hand, recent polls suggest that Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about their economic security and the risk of downward economic mobility. Here, UI researchers investigate the trends in and drivers of economic mobility and economic risk, within lifetimes and across generations.

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Drivers of Economic Mobility

Changes in economic status over time are the product of individual decisions and characteristics, family relationships, and broader economic and social trends. In a series of reviews written for the Pew Economic Mobility Project, UI and affiliated researchers summarize and evaluate the literature on drivers of economic mobility.

Discrimination and Economic Mobility Education and Economic Mobility Families and Economic Mobility Genetics and Economic Mobility Globalization and Economic Mobility Health and Economic Mobility Immigration and Economic Mobility Labor Market Institutions and Economic Mobility Self-Employment and Economic Mobility Tax and Spending and Economic Mobility Wealth and Economic Mobility

These literature reviews were conducted by the Urban Institute for the Pew Charitable Trusts

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Featured Publications

As we head towards an election in which debate over economic security and the distribution of economic gains will play a critical role, UI researchers identify and analyze emerging patterns in economic mobility and the policies aimed at promoting it.

• How Much Does the Federal Government Spend to Promote Economic Mobility? And for Whom?
• Decision Points '08: Economic Mobility (forthcoming)

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Related Policy Centers and Projects

• Income and Benefits Policy Center
• Low-Income Working Families Project
• Opportunity and Ownership Project