The study determined that neighborhood (.5 mile radius around family) is twice as significant in determining upward mobility compared to family status. Two policy options to consider:
First, empowering families to move to locations with greater opportunities. For a variety of reasons, low-income families have significant barriers to relocating for better opportunities. The article shows that when low-income people are provided with brokerage services (much like wealthy professionals get when being relocated), they relocate at dramatically higher rates.
Second, rebuilding impoverished neighborhoods with the institutions and resources necessary to achieve upward mobility for people who live there. This one is more problematic to measure and, therefore, more difficult to address confidently. But it does seem to suggest neighborhood development, including economic development, is more critical than isolated aid to families. It seems aid to families without a corresponding improvement in societal support systems is ineffective.
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