Why 3rd Grade Matters
Sway19 Marras 2020

Why 3rd Grade Matters

Harvard economist Raj Chetty believes that there’s a way to push past America’s political divide: data.

Mr. Chetty, head of the Harvard-based research group Opportunity Insights, has amassed a powerhouse of information drawing on everything from I.R.S. tax filings to credit card spending. Armed with that data, he’s able to understand whether meritocracy — or inequality — determines the economic fate of Americans. He’s also able to translate datapoints into accessible visualizations and concrete policy proposals.

In this episode of Sway, Mr. Chetty draws on data to answer questions like what age a person’s future has been largely determined (around 23), which ZIP codes provide the most economic opportunity (including some in rural Iowa), and what stands between a third-grader who will grow up to become an inventor and one who will not.

Mr. Chetty’s own trajectory was shaped by a move his parents made when he was 9 years old — from India to the U.S. — to pursue the American dream. His datasets reveal that this American dream is fading for future generations. But Mr. Chetty is determined to revive it. And given his influence on the future president, the economist may finally have his chance.

You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more information for all episodes at nytimes.com/sway, and you can find Kara on Twitter @karaswisher.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(195)

Best Of: Jon Stewart

Best Of: Jon Stewart

This month, Kara is revisiting some of her favorite episodes of Sway — including this conversation with the comedian and former Daily Show host, Jon Stewart, taped in March 2022. This episode contains...

28 Heinä 202248min

Best Of: Matthew McConaughey

Best Of: Matthew McConaughey

This month, Kara is revisiting some of her favorite episodes of Sway — including this conversation with the actor and self-proclaimed ‘statesman-philosopher, folk-singing poet’ Matthew McConaughey, ta...

25 Heinä 202238min

Best Of: Stacey Abrams

Best Of: Stacey Abrams

This month, Kara is revisiting some of her favorite episodes of Sway — including this conversation with the Georgia gubernatorial candidate and Democratic powerhouse Stacey Abrams, taped in March 2021...

21 Heinä 202244min

Best Of: Jason Miller

Best Of: Jason Miller

This month, Kara is revisiting some of her favorite episodes of Sway — including this conversation with the longtime Trump adviser and C.E.O. of Gettr Jason Miller, taped in August 2021.You can find t...

18 Heinä 202245min

Best Of: Fran Lebowitz

Best Of: Fran Lebowitz

This month, Kara is revisiting some of her favorite episodes of Sway — including this conversation with the humorist and famed New Yorker Fran Lebowitz, taped in February 2021.You can find transcripts...

14 Heinä 202237min

First Person: She’s Gay and a Republican. Is There a Place for Her in the G.O.P.?

First Person: She’s Gay and a Republican. Is There a Place for Her in the G.O.P.?

This month Kara is revisiting some of her favorite episodes — usually of Sway. But today she has another show to share with you: First Person.In this episode of the New York Times Opinion podcast, hos...

11 Heinä 202242min

Best Of: Monica Lewinsky

Best Of: Monica Lewinsky

This month, Kara is revisiting some of her favorite episodes of Sway — including this interview with Monica Lewinsky, the producer, activist and — yes — former White House intern. We taped this conver...

7 Heinä 202246min

Best Of: Elon Musk

Best Of: Elon Musk

This month, Kara is revisiting some of her favorite episodes of Sway — including this conversation with the Tesla C.E.O., Elon Musk, taped in September 2020.You can find transcripts (posted midday) an...

4 Heinä 202244min