Ad Hoc Propiter Hoc

In a recent piece in Vox the authors state:

Compared to other developed countries, the US ranks high on income inequality and low on social mobility. This could be particularly concerning if such a trend is self-perpetuating. In this column, the authors argue that there is a causal relationship between income inequality and high school dropout rates among disadvantaged youth. In particular, moving from a low-inequality to a high-inequality state increases the likelihood that a male student from a low socioeconomic status drops out of high school by 4.1 percentage points. The lack of opportunity for disadvantaged students, therefore, may be self-perpetuating.

Perhaps they have never been to France or the UK. In the UK it is your birth family that all too often defines you. It defines your position in society and your outcome. In France it again is family and school. In Russia, well we all know that one.

In the US anyone has a chance despite the author's contentions. Moreover one should look at their own data to see that DC has the highest drop out rate the the highest income disparity! Why, the Government. Lobbyists get millions and the old time residents wallow in a failing school system, albeit supported by the taxpayers.

In my experience the US has the greatest social mobility of any country. Anyone can start anything and try to make a go of it. Failing to complete High School is all too often a failure of the local Government and its way to educate. One need just look at the Charter Schools and their success.