Social mobility, or the ability for an individual or group to improve their standing in society, has been faltering for decades as a result of declining public investment and rising inequality. Policy areas that are crucial for encouraging upward social mobility include childhood education and wellbeing, affordable housing, education and workforce development. However, in recent decades economic policy has not invested in these items that help those at the bottom and has instead focused on tax cuts for those at the top. This disinvestment has stunted mobility for the vast majority of Americans.

Increasing investments to improve upward social mobility will also work to address the longstanding economic inequities faced by people of color. People of color, particularly Black Americans, are overrepresented at the bottom of the income distribution and face additional barriers to maintaining gains in mobility over generations. Investing in areas that improve conditions for upward social mobility will narrow racial economic disparities.

Supporting policy proposals that are responsive to the needs of families, such as the Build Back Better package, is necessary to reprioritize investments that benefit people across the income distribution, not just those already at the top. The problem of declining mobility can be addressed with key investments in universal pre-k, child tax credits, affordable housing and expanding educational opportunities beyond high school.

Read the full brief HERE.