New research has found that children that who grow up in certain neighborhoods are more likely to achieve economic mobility than others, writes Justin Lahart for The Wall Street Journal.

A group of Harvard University researchers who analyzed data covering a near universe of Americans born between 1978 and 1992 found that when employment among the poor parents of children in a community improves, those children are often better off economically as adults.

Outcomes also improve for children who grow up in a neighborhood where more parents are employed. The dynamic works in reverse, as well.

A pattern of falling parent employment and worsening outcomes has been displayed across much of the country.

In counties like Philadelphia, where employment rates among poor white parents have fallen sharply between 1978 and 1992, the income ranks of poor white children in adulthood has also fallen.

“What is so profound is we’re starting to get a sense of what it could be about a place that makes a difference for economic mobility,” said Stefanie DeLuca, a Johns Hopkins University sociologist.

While employment is a key part in achieving economic ability, the Harvard researchers highlighted changes in marriage and mortality rates as other factors correlated with mobility trends.

Read more about economic mobility trends throughout various U.S. counties in The Wall Street Journal.

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