Income Equality and Education

NPR radio carried a thought provoking segment this morning dealing with income equality (aka, inequality) in the nation and the role of education relative to mitigating against such inequality.

Both Matthew Yglesias, a Slate.com reporter on economics, and Tyler Cowen, an economist at George Mason, both agreed that the super rich are getting richer and the poor are lagging behind.

What I found to be of interest in the report was the fact that these economists brought up the issue of education. Each felt that, though there is a growing income disparity, the real issue is the fact that some people are not afforded the same opportunity to move up the ladder income-wise.

Cowen reported that parents who attend a very good school (college) and, in turn, see their children receive a great university education are afforded the best opportunities to be upwardly mobile. Sadly, those parent, and their children, who attend poor schools and receive a poor education aren't able to be upwardly mobile.

The above isn't the only reason for a lack of upward mobility and an accompanying inability to share in the wealth of the nation but it is a most critical one according to Cowen and Yglesias. Other factors include macro economic issues, affordable housing and demographics.

But the bottom line is this...The better an education one receives, the better the chances of improving ones lot when it comes to realizing the 'American Dream;' that is, being upwardly mobile.

As you can see, the work our charity engages in helps students receive a better education. In turn, hopefully, students will realize such benefits and improve their chances at being upwardly mobile.

Thanks for being a part of this important process!
Dick