The American Dream is Thriving — Just Not in the U.S.

The American Dream is alive and well — just not on U.S. soil.

Seeking to assess if the Horatio Alger, “rags to riches” narrative behind that defining metaphor remains viable, researchers measured the odds of a child born to parents in the bottom 20 percent of income earners reaching the top fifth. They then contrasted the chances of climbing the ladder in the U.S. to that in other developed countries.