At What Age Does Family Income Most Shape Your Future? Timing and Intergenerational Mobility

Joseph Fishkin's 'Bottlenecks: A New Theory of Equal Opportunity' introduces a theory to address inequality by focusing on critical points of access to opportunity. Fishkin argues that opportunity in America is restricted by a series of bottlenecks, or choke points, such as access to quality education, healthcare, and employment. The book analyzes the legal and policy implications of these bottlenecks, proposing structural reforms to promote a more equitable society. Through detailed case studies, Fishkin demonstrates how bottlenecks perpetuate inequality and hinder social mobility. By identifying and addressing these bottlenecks, the book offers a new framework for understanding and achieving equal opportunity for all.

In 'Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed', Jared Diamond examines the collapse of past societies, such as the Anasazi, the Maya, and the Norse colonies on Greenland, due to factors like environmental damage, climate change, hostile neighbors, loss of trading partners, and the society's response to these challenges. Diamond argues that environmental concerns are crucial to a society's success and that the way a society responds to its environmental problems is often the decisive factor in its survival or collapse. The book also draws parallels between historical collapses and current global issues, offering practical lessons and solutions to avoid similar catastrophes in the present and future.