Raj Chetty, an Indian-American economist and Professor of Economics at Harvard University, has been honored with the prestigious George Ledlie Prize for his groundbreaking work on economic mobility and using big data to challenge the misconceptions surrounding the American Dream.

Chetty, who also serves as the director of Opportunity Insights, a group of economists studying inequality, has been recognized for his efforts to make the American Dream more attainable for all individuals. Alongside Chetty, biologist Michael Springer, a professor of systems biology at HMS, was also awarded the George Ledlie Prize for his contribution to creating a faster and more efficient COVID testing system.

Springer played a key role in designing and operating the new Harvard University Clinical Laboratory, which effectively managed testing and samples. University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Alan M. Garber praised Chetty and Springer for their remarkable contributions to their respective fields and their dedication to improving the well-being of others.

The George Ledlie Prize, which is bestowed no more frequently than every two years, is awarded to members of the Harvard community who have made significant contributions to science or have positively impacted humanity. Chetty's personal experiences as an immigrant from India played a significant role in his interest in this work.

He witnessed the disparities not only between his home country and the US but also among his own family members. Chetty's parents, who grew up in low-income families in South India, were chosen to receive higher education opportunities, while their siblings were not. This decision shaped the opportunities available to Chetty and his cousins, and he realized the lifelong impact of geographical and educational disparities on economic mobility.

Chetty's research has shed light on the profound influence of geography on children's outcomes, revealing that children from the same backgrounds have significantly different chances of upward mobility based on their place of residence.

Additionally, he has explored the role of racial disparities and social capital in economic mobility and has recommended policy measures to reduce segregation, invest in place-based initiatives, and strengthen higher education to enhance equity and opportunity. The impact of Chetty's work is already being felt in real-world scenarios.

The Housing and Urban Development Agency has redesigned affordable-housing policies to provide increased access to higher-opportunity neighborhoods, and numerous cities have implemented job-training programs as part of broader place-based initiatives. Chetty expressed gratitude for the recognition of his work through the George Ledlie Prize, emphasizing its significance in acknowledging economics as a scientific discipline.

Coming from a family with a background in the natural sciences, including his mother, who is a pulmonologist, Chetty found the recognition especially meaningful. Raj Chetty's pioneering research on economic mobility and his efforts to share this valuable data with policymakers are bringing the American Dream within reach for individuals from all walks of life. Through his work, Chetty is dismantling myths and obstacles, paving the way for a more equitable and accessible future.