Poppy MacDonald

Data-Driven Solutions to Advance the American Dream | Global Conference 2024

Rachel Goslins, Raj Chetty, Jon Clifton, Brian Hooks, Poppy MacDonald, John

Hosted by Rachel Goslins of the Milken Center, this panel featured experts Raj Chetty, Poppy Gentry, Brian Sheth, and John Pollack to analyze the decline in American economic mobility using large-scale data from tax records, government sources, and social networks. The discussion highlighted a sharp drop in intergenerational wealth transfer since the 1940s and exposed how geographic variance, low social capital, and gaps in wealth measurement contribute to the widening prosperity gap. By integrating public perception surveys with "customer-first" philanthropy models, the session concluded that improving mobility requires redefining the American Dream to prioritize freedom and opportunity while leveraging private financial data to guide targeted policy interventions.