Thomas Hirschl, an expert in social stratification and economic mobility, won the 2016 book award from the Society for Social Work and Research for his book “Chasing the American Dream: Understanding What Shapes Our Fortunes.”
The award recognizes a scholarly contribution that advances social work knowledge with direct applications to practice, policy, and the resolution of social problems. The winners were announced Jan. 16 at the association’s annual conference in Washington, D.C.
Hirschl, professor of development sociology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, along with co-authors Mark Robert Rank and Kirk A. Foster, interviewed more than 150 citizens chasing the sometimes-elusive American Dream. The book explores topics pivotal to the modern debate about social mobility and access to opportunity. In it, Hirschl explores income and wealth dynamics over the course of modern American lifespan, illustrating the role class and race have on success and suggests policies aimed at increasing access to the skills and institutions that favor attainment of success.
The book has influenced debate about income equality and society even before its publication in 2014. President Barack Obama used the author’s findings to inform a 2013 policy speech on building a more equitable economy.
Hirschl’s research focuses on social class differentiation in contemporary society. His work takes a lifetime view of an individual to chart how opportunity and economic fortune changes over time. He found that around 11 percent of Americans will join the top 1 percent of wage earners for at least one year between the ages 25 to 60. For most people, however, the success is fleeting: less than 0.6 percent remain in that top tier for two years or more.
Hirschl serves as director of the Population and Development Program and Teen Assessment Program, and coordinator of the Program Work Team on Poverty and Economic Hardship.
