An article Holly sent me a few weeks ago said that while we think of America as the land of opportunity, it actually has a much lower percentage of people who are born poor and make it rich than most of the rest of the world.  The articles interprets this to mean that it is much harder to start poor and get rich in America.  But I think all you can really interpret from this is that it doesn’t happen often.  So what are the reasons that so few people do this in America?

The article states that education is the biggest factor, with richer children getting a better education at school.  But certainly there are scholarships and financial aid available for smart kids whether they are rich or poor.  In David Brook’s column yesterday, he hypothesized that it was the skills these children aren’t taught such as self-discipline and motivation that makes a difference.  Supposedly children who develop learning skills by age 3 will be better learners throughout the rest of their life.  So perhaps it is a difference in the way these children are raised in the first three years of their life?

There aren’t any obvious answers here.  Certainly a good education is expensive and out of reach for some people and needs to be made more accessible.  But I do also agree with the concept of children learning these skills early in their life.  The first few years of a student’s life will determine their motivation, self-discipline, and hunger to learn which will guide them through school.  Of course, rich children can learn none of those things and still stay rich.  So certainly it is harder for poorer familes.