Raj Chetty, the William A. Ackman Professor of Economics at Harvard and Director of Opportunity Insights, dives into the critical role elite universities play in shaping success in America. He discusses how a child's environment impacts economic mobility, emphasizing the need for social connections and authentic interactions across class divides. Chetty paints a stark picture of economic disparities, advocating for a substantial minimum wage increase and examining the barriers to education for disadvantaged youth. His insights underscore the urgent need for systemic change.

Harvard economist Raj Chetty uses tax data to study inequality, kid success, and social mobility. He explains why you should be careful when choosing your grade school teachers — and your friends. 

Raj Chetty, a Harvard economist known for his pioneering work on social mobility, joins the discussion to reveal surprising insights from his latest research. He highlights how Black millennials are now outpacing previous generations in economic mobility, while low-income white individuals are lagging. Chetty delves into the importance of race and class, the costs of pursuing mobility, and how factors such as parenting and community dynamics play crucial roles. He also touches on policies needed to tackle systemic inequalities in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.

Raj Chetty, a Harvard Professor and Director of Opportunity Insights, dives into how elite universities influence economic mobility. He discusses the troubling disparities in college admissions based on socioeconomic status and advocates for expanding access to vocational training. Chetty emphasizes the significant impact of a child's environment on future opportunities and highlights the challenges faced by disadvantaged groups, particularly black boys. He presents innovative solutions to improve upward mobility, including access to educational resources and community support.

Economist Raj Chetty of Harvard University talks about his work on economic mobility with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. The focus is on Chetty's recent co-authored study in Nature where he finds that poor people in America who are only connected to other poor people do dramatically worse financially than poor people who are connected to a wider array of economic classes. The discussion includes the policy implications of this result as well as a discussion of Chetty's earlier work on the American Dream and the challenge of Americans born in recent decades to do better financially than their parents.

I don’t ordinarily find myself scrambling to write down article ideas during these conversations, but almost everything Raj Chetty says is worth a feature unto itself. For instance:- Great Kindergarten teachers generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in future earnings for their students- Solving poverty would increase life expectancy by more — far more — than curing cancer- Public investment focused on children often pays for itself- The American dream is more alive in Canada than in America- Maps of American slavery look eerily like maps of American social mobility — but not for the reason you’d thinkChetty is a Harvard economist who has been called “the most influential economist alive today.” He’s considered by his peers to be a shoo-in for the Nobel prize. He specializes in bringing massive amounts of data to bear on the question of social mobility: which communities have it, how they got it, and what we can learn from them.What Chetty says in this conversation could power a decade of American social policy. It probably should.References: Atlantic profile Vox profile Books: Scarcity:The New Science of Having Less and How It Defines Our Lives by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar ShafirEvicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matt Desmond How to Catch a HeffalumpWant to contact the show? Reach out at ezrakleinshow@vox.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Guests from top financial firms discuss liquid credit markets, real estate investments in Africa, potential recession risks, upward mobility in the US, and M&A trends, exploring regulatory impacts on deal-making.

David Deming and Raj Chetty discuss their research on legacy admissions at elite colleges, highlighting how these policies favor wealthy students and perpetuate power and prestige. They explore the implications for social mobility, the disparity in admissions based on parental wealth, and the importance of diversity. They also reflect on their personal backgrounds and the role of education in providing opportunities.

Professor Raj Chetty discusses the importance of economic connectedness for social mobility, using data on friendships from Facebook. They explore factors influencing economic mobility and the role of social capital, highlighting the relationship between economic connectedness and upward mobility. The podcast also delves into housing voucher programs and innovative policies to improve economic mobility for working-class families.

Economics professor Raj Chetty discusses social mobility, value of kindergarten teachers, why corporations pay dividends, and his love for Piano Guys. He reflects on his personal journey, upbringing in India, and innovative research approach. The conversation also touches on underrated US state, okra's role in success, and factors affecting social mobility in the US.