Research and Data Priorities for Improving Economic and Social Mobility

Since around 1980, fewer Americans than before are doing better than their parents had – that is, more are experiencing downward social and economic mobility in terms of occupational status and income. This trend in downward mobility is occurring amidst high and rising levels of inequality in income, wealth, health, and life expectancy. To better understand the factors that influence social and economic mobility, the Committee on Population and the Committee on National Statistics hosted a workshop on February 14-15, 2022. The proceedings from this workshop identify key priorities for future research and data collection to improve social and economic mobility.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
1 Introduction
2 Social and Economic Mobility: State of the Field
3 Conceptual Approaches and Frameworks
4 Studying the Spatial Dimensions of Mobility
5 Studying Mobility by Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration Status
6 Data Infrastructure for Studying Mobility
7 Moving Forward: The Role of Policy and Key Takeaways
Appendix A: Workshop Agenda
Appendix B: Biographies of Planning Committee Members and Presenters