Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States

Webinar

Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States Public Webinar

September 22, 2025

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

Economic and Social Mobility Webinar Slides

About

Intergenerational mobility is an important measure of well-being that underlies a fundamental value: that anyone should be able to succeed economically based on their own merits, regardless of their circumstances. For all the emphasis placed on mobility in the United States, however, the chances that Americans have of doing better than their parents and their chances of succeeding economically regardless of the advantages of birth are not higher than in other wealthy countries.

Economic and Social Mobility, a new consensus study from the Committee on Population and Committee on National Statistics, provides a forward-looking framework for data, research, and policy initiatives to boost upward mobility and better fulfill promises of opportunity and advancement for all members of U.S. society. In this webinar, study committee members will discuss the report’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations addressing issues in: (1) Early Life and Family; (2) Space and Place; (3) Postsecondary Education; (4) Wealth, Credit, and Debt; and (5) Data Infrastructure.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Rebecca Krone

(202) 334-2515
rkrone@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States Meeting 4

November 2 - 3, 2023

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Partially Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Martha Bailey
Lonnie Berger
Tyson Brown
Johnavae Campbell
Stefanie DeLuca
Susan Dynarski
David Grusky
Kathleen Mullan Harris
Fabian Pfeffer
Luke Shaefer
Patrick Sharkey
Marta Tienda
Florencia Torche
Ken Troske

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Chapters of committee's report
January 2024 meeting

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

November 03, 2023

Contact

Anthony Mann

(202) 334-3266
amann@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States Meeting 6

April 23 - 24, 2024

Past

About

This meeting is closed in its entirety.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Luke Shaefer (Chair)
Florencia Torche (Vice Chair)
Martha Bailey
Lonnie Berger
Tyson Brown
Johnavae Campbell
Stefanie DeLuca
Susan Dynarski
David Grusky
Kathleen Mullan Harris
Fabian Pfeffer
Patrick Sharkey
Marta Tienda
Ken Trosky

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Chapters of committee's forthcoming report.

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None.

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

April 26, 2024

Contact

Anthony Mann

(202) 334-3266
AMann@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States Meeting 5

January 29 - 30, 2024

Past

About

This meeting is closed in its entirety.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Martha Bailey
Lonnie Berger
Tyson Brown
Johnavae Campbell
Stefanie DeLuca
Susan Dynarski
David Grusky
Kathleen Mullan Harris
Fabian Pfeffer
Luke Shaefer
Patrick Sharkey
Marta Tienda
Florencia Torche
Ken Troske

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Chapters of the committee's report
April 2024 meeting

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

February 02, 2024

Contact

Kevona Jones

(202) 334-2931
KRJones@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States Meeting 3

August 29 - 30, 2023

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

The committee meeting will include both open and closed sessions.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Partially Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Luke Shaefer
Florencia Torche
Martha Bailey
Lonnie Berger
Tyson Brown
Johnavae Campbell
Stephanie DeLuca
David Grusky
Kathleen Mullan Harris
Fabian Pfeffer
Patrick Sharkey
Marta Tienda
Kem Troske

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Committee's forthcoming report.
Future meetings.

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None.

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

August 31, 2023

Contact

Anthony Mann

(202) 334-3266
amann@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States: Public Information-Gathering Session

August 7, 2023

12:00 PM - 4:30 PM (ET)

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

At this (virtual) information-gathering session, members of the study committee will hear from outside experts on issues related to (1) labor markets and mobility; and (2) politics, policy, and public opinion.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Anthony Mann

(202) 334-3266
amann@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States Meeting 2

July 25 - 26, 2023

Past

About

This meeting is closed in its entirety.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Luke Shaefer
Florencia Torche
Lonnie Berger
Tyson Brown
Stefanie DeLuca
Susan Dynarski
David Grusky
Kathleen Mullan Harris
Fabian Pfeffer
Ken Troske

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Report chapters
August committee meetings

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None.

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

July 27, 2023

Contact

Anthony Mann

(202) 334-3266
amann@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States Meeting 1

April 27 - 28, 2023

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

This inaugural meeting of the panel will include some open sessions and some closed sessions.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Partially Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Luke Shaefer (Chair)
Florencia Torche (Vice Chair)
Martha Bailey
Lonnie Berger
Tyson Brown
Johnavae Campbell
Stefanie DeLuca
Susan Dynarski
Kathleen Mullan Harris
Fabian Pfeffer
Patrick Sharkey
Marta Tienda
Ken Troske

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Report outline
Future meetings
Committee writing assignments

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

May 01, 2023

Contact

Anthony Mann

(202) 334-3266
amann@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

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Research Agenda for Improving Economic and Social Mobility in the United States

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