Restoring the American Dream with Research and Policymakers

AAEA’s T.W. Schultz Memorial Lecturer features Harvard economist

Did you know that 90% of children born in 1940 grew up to earn more than their parents? Today, only half of all children earn more than their parents. Understanding how to restore the American Dream is a central question of interest both for research and policymakers. At the T.W. Schultz Memorial Lecture, Dr. Raj Chetty from Harvard University will present on “The Opportunity Atlas: The Geography of Economic Opportunity in America.”

 “Our research shows that the neighborhoods where children grow up are where the next generation's outcomes are shaped. If you want to improve kids' outcomes in adulthood, go to the places where they grow up. That’s where you can change their trajectory,” says Chetty. “The challenge is that there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions to systematically improving neighborhoods and increasing mobility. We have many new insights into the key drivers of economic mobility thanks to `big data’ and advances in scientific research. The power is in merging the data and local policy action together.”

The T.W. Schultz Memorial Lecture will take place on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 6:15 pm – 8:45 pm at the Hilton Atlanta with a reception immediately following the lecture. To attend this lecture please contact Allison Scheetz in the AAEA Business Office for your complimentary Media Registration.

ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes two journals, the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices. To learn more, visit www.aaea.org.

Contact: Allison Scheetz
Senior Communications Manager
(414) 918-3190
Email: ascheetz@aaea.org