Video: Brown economist on opportunity and the American Dream

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] - The American Dream is getting harder to achieve, according to John N. Friedman, inaugural dean of Brown's new Watson School of International and Public Affairs.

In a brief video interview, Friedman, a professor of economics and of international and public affairs, shared insights on the racial and economic segregation that have contributed to an overall decline in upward mobility.

"The American Dream is that each generation, through hard work, has the opportunity to rise up and achieve a better standard of living than their parents did - and that opportunity is available no matter the circumstances of your background," Friedman said. "The reality, unfortunately, is these opportunities have been fading over time."

Friedman, who researches economic mobility and co-directs the Opportunity Insights research team, said there is evidence that increasing educational opportunities prevents the economic gap from widening by helping young people learn skills and by exposing them to new ideas contributed by people from different backgrounds.

"[Education] gives [students] social capital, a sense of what's possible, and also helps them figure out so many of those challenges that people face in the world," Friedman said.

When more people are given a chance to achieve the American Dream, everyone benefits, he said.

"We'd have faster growth in society [and] we'd have better medical cures in society if only we had more equality of opportunity and more chances for children to rise up from whatever background and become the next star, entrepreneur or scientist of tomorrow," he said.