Networks of opportunity: Social capital and economic mobility
Past Event
Social capital—the strength of an individual’s social network and community—has been identified as a potential determinant of outcomes ranging from education to health. However, efforts to understand what types of social capital matter for these outcomes have been hindered by a lack of social network data. In joint work from Raj Chetty (Harvard University), Johannes Stroebel (NYU Stern), Theresa Kuchler (NYU), Matt Jackson (Stanford), and other collaborators, data on interpersonal connections is used to measure and analyze social capital for every ZIP code, high school, and college in the United States.
On Wednesday, August 3, Chetty and Stroebel presented their findings. A panel of experts followed to discuss insights gleaned from their work, including new evidence on the relationship between social capital and upward mobility.
Viewers submitted questions for speakers in advance on Twitter using the hashtag #SocialCapital or by emailing events@brookings.edu.
Agenda
Welcome and introduction
Presentation
Raj Chetty
William A. Ackman Professor of Economics - Harvard University
Director - Opportunity Insights
Johannes Stroebel
David S. Loeb Professor of Finance - New York University, Stern School of Business
Panel discussion
Camille Busette
Interim Vice President and Director - Governance Studies
Director - Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative
Robert Putnam
Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy - Harvard University
Scott Winship
Resident Scholar Director of Poverty Studies - American Enterprise Institute
Former Brookings Expert
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