Friendships across income lines are the strongest predictor of moving up
Using data from 72 million people, researchers measured how connected lower- and higher-income individuals are in each community. Where those friendships are common, children from poor families earn markedly more as adults - more than school quality, job availability or family structure predict. Who you meet changes where you can go.
This is a short takeaway in our own words, not a reproduction of the study. For the method, the sample and the caveats, read the original. Mind lives inside the Booking Minds app under the brain icon, where you can save and share each piece.