Economist Raj Chetty presents data showing that it is easier to
achieve the traditional American Dream of upward income mobility if
one lives in Canada than in the United States. Using big data, he
shows that there is tremendous variation in rates of upward mobility
in the U.S., with some cities, like San Francisco, offering rates of
upward mobility comparable to Canada and others, such as Atlanta,
offering lower rates than any country in the world. Chetty uncovers
and analyzes key factors that explain these differences in upward
mobility and how policies can be changed to revive the American Dream.

Raj Chetty is a professor of economics at Stanford. His research combines empirical evidence and economic theory to help design more effective government policies. Currently, his research focuses on equality of opportunity: How can we give children from disadvantaged backgrounds better chances of succeeding? Chetty is a recipient of a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship and the John Bates Clark Medal, given by the American Economic Association to the best American economist under age 40.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx