CRYSTAL: HI, EVERYBODY.

I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

ALARMING NEW RESEARCH FROM THE CDC FINDS RECORD LEVELS OF SADNESS, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN TEENAGE GIRLS.

WE WILL DIG INTO WHAT'’S BEHIND THIS DISTURBING TREND AND HOW WE CAN STOP IT.

PLUS, IS NEPOTISM TAKING OVER?

NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS IT IS NOT JUST HOLLYWOOD STARS RIDING THEIR PARENTS'’ COATTAILS TO SUCCESS.

IT'’S NO SECRET THAT PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND LONELINESS, ESPECIALLY IN TEENS.

BUT NEW DATA FROM THE CDC IS BEARING OUT JUST HOW MUCH YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH.

AMONG TEENAGE GIRLS IN PARTICULAR, NEARLY 60% HAVE REPORTED FEELING PERSISTENT SADNESS IN 2021.

THAT'’S DOUBLE THE RATE OF TEENAGE BOYS.

AND OVERALL, THE CDC IS REPORTING THE HIGHEST RATES OF SADNESS IN A DECADE.

AMONG LGBTQ TEENS, THE DATA IS ALARMING, WITH 22% REPORTING A SUICIDE ATTEMPT IN THE YEAR BEFORE THE SURVEY, CLOSE TO FOUR TIMES THE RATE OF THEIR HETEROSEXUAL PEERS.

FOR TEENS OF COLOR, VIOLENCE IN SCHOOL IS A SERIOUS CONCERN.

MORE THAN 10% OF INDIGENOUS, BLACK, AND HISPANIC STUDENTS HAVE REPORTED STAYING HOME OVER FEAR OF VIOLENCE, THE MOST OUT OF ANY OTHER GROUP.

WHAT'’S BEHIND ALL OF THESE NUMBERS, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP TEENAGERS IN THIS COUNTRY FEEL SAFE AND HEALTHY?

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT WITH IVANNA SOLANO, THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOVE YOUR MAGIC, A GROUP THAT HOLDS CONFERENCES AND CAMPS AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS.

AND DR. LOVERN MOSELEY, A CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGIST AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER.

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.

DR. MOSELEY, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU WORK WITH THIS POPULATION THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST VULNERABLE HERE, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE NUMBERS.

DID IT SURPRISE YOU THAT THE CDC SURVEY CAME UP WITH THESE TRENDS?

DR. MOSELEY: NOT AT ALL.

OVER TIME, WE HAVE SEEN INCREASES IN VIOLENCE AMONG YOUNG FOLKS.

THE PANDEMIC ITSELF BORNE OUT A NEW SET OF NUMBERS, BECAUSE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WERE STRUGGLING WITH MAKING THAT ADJUSTMENT TO BEING ISOLATED.

THERE WERE LONG-STANDING ISSUES THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED.

THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ISSUES AROUND LIMITED ACCESS TO TREATMENT, SO THERE WERE THINGS THAT ENDED UP LINGERING FOR A LOT OF YOUNG FOLKS AND THEY DIDN'’T REALLY HAVE THE OUTLETS THAT THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

CRYSTAL: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS NUMBER BETWEEN TEENAGE GIRLS AND TEENAGE BOYS, THE DIFFERENCE SEEMS TO BE STAGGERING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK CONTRIBUTES TO THAT?

DR. MOSELEY: THERE ARE A LOT -- FOUR GIRLS, -- FOR GIRLS, OFTEN TIMES, THEY ENGAGE IN MORE INTERNALIZING BEHAVIORS, MORE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS, THINGS THAT WERE NOT REALLY EXPRESSED AS PROBABLY AS DUTCH AS READILY AS THEY PROBABLY WERE IN THE BOYS -- THINGS THAT WERE NOT REALLY EXPRESSED AS READILY AS THEY PROBABLY WERE IN THE BOYS.

NOW, THAT CREATED THIS SPACE WHERE A LOT OF OLD FEELINGS WERE JUST END UP -- PENT UP, AND IT HAD TO COME OUT IN SOME WAY.

SO THAT'’S WHAT WE ARE SEEING, MORE OF THAT IRRITABILITY, ANGER, FRUSTRATION COMING OUT IN OTHER WAYS.

AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET IT OUT, SO THAT'’S WHY WE ARE SEEING MORE OF THAT.

IN TERMS OF THE FEELINGS OF SUICIDE OR THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, OFTEN TIMES, WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT YOUNG FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN ABLE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE LIFE, THE IDEA OF SUICIDE IS AN OUT.

THEY FEEL THERE ARE NO MORE OPTIONS.

THERE ARE NO OTHER WAYS OUT.

AND THEY FEEL AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO MANAGE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE FEELING, AND SO THE ONLY WAY IS, OK, NO HOLDS BARRED, I.E., BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, I'’M GOING TO GET OUT WHAT IT IS THAT I'’M FEELING.

WE SEE THAT EITHER INTERNALIZED IN TERMS OF SUICIDE OR EXTERNALIZED IN HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET BACK AT SOMEONE IF THEY FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN DISRESPECTED OR HARMED IN SOME WAY.

WHEN WE THINK ALSO OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE AMOUNT OF UPWARD TICKS IN PEOPLE RECORDING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS, IT HAS NOW BECOME SOMETHING THAT IS IMMORTALIZED IN OUR CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTS.

THIS IS THE NORM.

THIS IS WHAT WE DO WHEN WE ARE UPSET OR SOMEONE IS DISRESPECTED.

WE HAVE TO NOW EXTERNALIZE THESE BEHAVIORS OR THESE FEELINGS.

CRYSTAL: SOCIAL MEDIA CERTAINLY CHANGES THE GAME.

IVANNA, YOU WORK WITH THESE YOUNG WOMEN THROUGH YOUR PROGRAMMING AND OTHER WORK.

HOW ARE YOU SEEING THIS PLAY OUT WHEN YOU ARE ENGAGING THESE YOUNG WOMEN?

IVANNA: A LOT OF OUR YOUNG GIRLS ARE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF IRRITABILITY.

THEY ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY ARE NOT 100% SURE HOW TO RESPOND.

I THINK A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN TRIGGERING A LOT OF VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS.

A LOT OF TIMES, IT IS TRIGGERING A LOT OF ARGUMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL.

AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE REALLY TRY TO GIVE OUR GIRLS THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN RESPOND IN THOSE SITUATIONS IN A WAY THAT IS PRODUCTIVE, REALLY ENCOURAGING OUR GIRLS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS OR TO DEVELOP COPING SKILLS THAT THEY CAN USE IN THOSE INSTANCES TO CALM THEMSELVES DOWN OR TO TAKE THEMSELVES AWAY FROM THOSE SITUATIONS, TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING IN A WAY THAT IS AGGRESSIVE OR IN A WAY THAT COULD PERHAPS PUT THEM IN MORE TROUBLE THAN THEY HAVE PERHAPS EXPERIENCED IN SCHOOLS.

CRYSTAL: WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW ABOUT HOW YOU TRY TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE SELF TALK WITH THESE GIRLS.

IVANNA: YES.

WE, AS AN ORGANIZATION, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT IS SELF-LOVE.

SELF-LOVE IS HUGE FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION.

A LOT OF TIMES, OUR BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS ARE SOCIALIZED TO THINK THEY ARE EITHER TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH, AND THEY REALLY INTERNALIZED THOSE MESSAGES.

AND AS A RESULT, IT LEADS TO THAT LASHING OUT.

IT LEADS TO THEM RESPONDING TO MESSAGES FROM THEIR PEERS OR MESSAGES FROM THEIR TEACHERS OR FROM THE SCHOOL OR SOCIETY IN A WAY THAT PERHAPS THEY NORMALLY WOULDN'’T RESPOND.

AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE REALLY WANT TO SHIFT THE WAY THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SEE THEMSELVES.

WE WANT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW YOU ARE ENOUGH JUST AS YOU ARE, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE INTELLIGENT.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY, YOU GET A SHAPE THAT WAY THAT YOU SEE YOURSELF, AND YOU GET TO SHAPE THE WAY OTHERS SEE YOU AS WELL.

CRYSTAL: DR. MOSELEY, IF I'’M A PARENT AND ITS POST-PANDEMIC AND MY FAMILY IS TRYING TO RECOVER FINANCIALLY, PHYSICALLY, HOW DO YOU NOTICE THAT YOUR TEENAGER IS STRUGGLING?

DR. MOSELEY: WHEN I SPEAK WITH A LOT OF PARENTS, I TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR KIDS.

SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PROVIDING THE SPACE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'’S GOING ON IN THEIR DAY, HOW ARE THEY FEELING.

BUT AS A PARENT, YOU WOULD ALSO NOTICE CERTAIN SYMPTOMS.

IS YOUR CHILD MORE DEPRESSED OR IRRITABLE THAN YOU HAVE NOTICED THEM TO BE OVER TIME?

HAVE THEY MADE A CHANGE FROM THEIR USUAL BASELINE?

EVERYONE IS TRYING TO COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC, AND ALL OF THE STRESSORS THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF THIS.

IT'’S LIKE -- IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'’T SEEN BEFORE.

MAKING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS, MAKING THOSE CHANGES CAN BE REALLY VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE ARE IN CHARTERED TERRITORY.

THIS IS NEW WATERS -- IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

THIS IS NEW WATERS.

BUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILD ABOUT HOW THEY'’RE FEELING, WHAT ARE THEIR KEY RELATIONSHIPS -- PEER RELATIONSHIPS LIKE.

ARE YOU NOTICING THAT THEY ARE WITHDRAWING FROM THEIR USUAL ACTIVITIES?

ARE YOU NOTICING THEY ARE SLEEPING MORE OR THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THEIR EATING?

HAS THERE BEEN WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN?

TO ME, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR CHILD AND NOT AVOIDING SOME OF THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS IS THE PLACE TO START.

IF YOU CAN GET BACK TO SOME OF THOSE ROUTINES THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD IN YEARS GONE BY, WHERE FOLKS WERE SITTING DOWN TO HAVE A MEAL TOGETHER.

IN A LOT OF HOMES, THAT'’S NOT HAPPENING MUCH ANYMORE.

EVERYONE IS KIND OF DOING THEIR OWN THING.

BUT BEING ABLE TO CREATE SPACE FOR CONVERSATION, BEING ABLE TO ALSO SHARE THAT THERE MAY BE FEARS THAT YOU AS A PARENT HAVE AS WELL.

OR THINGS THAT YOU ARE NERVOUS ABOUT OR WORRIED ABOUT.

BEING ABLE TO KIND OF OPEN THE CONVERSATION AND HAVE THAT DIALOGUE, SO THAT WE CAN REMOVE THAT STIGMA THAT OFTEN TIMES IS THERE AROUND TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

CRYSTAL: I WANT TO PULL OUT SOME NUMBERS FROM THIS SURVEY.

WE KNOW THAT, OF THE NUMBER OF TEEN GIRLS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE, THAT'’S AT 15% IN 2017, UP TO 18% IN 2021.

AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BOYS, AGAIN, THAT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE REPORTED SEXUAL VIOLENCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 4% IN 2017 AND 5% IN 2021.

THIS UPTICK IN SEXUAL VIOLENCE HAS GOT TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND DISCUSSING IT.

IVANNA, I IMAGINE IN SOME OF YOUR PROGRAMMING, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO THESE YOUNG GIRLS, TEACHING THEM HOW TO TALK ABOUT SERIOUS THINGS, HEAVY THINGS,.

-- HEAVY THINGS COME UP.

HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE OR HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS?

IVANNA: AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE PRIORITIZE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE EXPERTS OF THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES.

AS ADULTS, OFTENTIMES, WE WANT TO BRING IN OUR PERSPECTIVE, AND WE THINK THAT WE KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART WHEN SPEAKING FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IS TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

REALLY CREATING INTENTIONAL SPACES TO LISTEN TO HOW THEY ARE FEELING, TO LISTEN TO WHAT IT IS THAT THEY NEED.

NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, THEY WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT THEY NEED.

TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE, IN HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE CAN CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

I THINK FOR US, IT'’S BEEN REALLY CRITICAL TO HAVE RESTORATIVE CONVERSATIONS, WHERE WE ARE DISCUSSING THE DIFFICULT TOPICS THAT PERHAPS ARE NOT BEING DISCUSSED AT HOME.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE REALLY PRIORITIZED IS NOT ONLY SUPPORTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ALSO BRINGING IN THE CAREGIVERS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SERVING AS WELL.

I THINK IT'’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO THE FAMILIES.

IT'’S REALLY EASY TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS AND TO UPLIFT AND TO AMPLIFY OUR WORK AND GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED, BUT IF WE ARE NOT DOING THE SAME WITH THE ADULTS, A LOT OF THAT GETS UNDONE WHEN THEY GO HOME OR GO INTO SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE AS A COMMUNITY SHIFT OUR PERSPECTIVE AND REALIZE THAT THE WELL-BEING OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IS OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.

CRYSTAL: DR. MOSELEY, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER PIECE?

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE SHORTAGES IN THIS SPACE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO SPECIALIZE IN TREATING YOUNG PEOPLE.

DR. MOSELEY: IT'’S BEEN REALLY TOUGH, BECAUSE EVEN AS WE THINK ABOUT COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND EVEN MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT, PRE-PANDEMIC, WE TRIED TO ENSURE WHAT'’S HAPPENING.

WE HAVE -- MAYBE IF THEY DIDN'’T HAVE ACCESS TO A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER OR A THERAPIST, THEY WERE AT LEAST ABLE TO GO TO THEIR SCHOOL AND HAVE A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OR SOMEONE, SOCIAL WORKER THEY COULD SPEAK TO.

WE HAVE THIS PURE MAC OF TIME WHERE ALL OF THOSE -- THIS PERIOD OF TIME WHERE ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THEY WERE GONE, SO KIDS WERE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THIS BY THEMSELVES.

WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT CLOSED.

A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT WOULD'’VE BEEN LIKE INTERMEDIARIES, LIKE INPATIENT FACILITIES.

THEY REDUCED THEIR NUMBERS OF BEDS.

AND A LOT OF FOLKS PROBABLY FELT KIND OF AT A LOSS AS TO WHERE THEY COULD ACCESS SERVICES IF THEY DIDN'’T HAVE A SPACE THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY GO TO.

FOLKS WERE TRYING TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF THESE THINGS ON THEIR OWN.

WE ARE SEEING SUCH A -- IT'’S ALSO A STRESS AND A STRAIN EVEN ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND ON THE PROVIDERS, BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING CALLS AND WE DON'’T HAVE ENOUGH PROVIDERS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THAT SUPPORT THAT'’S NEEDED.

AND SO, THERE'’S A CALL, A CLARION CALL.

I ALSO HAVE A GROUP PRIVATE PRACTICE, AND I WAS TALKING WITH SOME OF THE PROVIDERS YESTERDAY ABOUT MAKING REFERRALS, BECAUSE WE DON'’T HAVE ENOUGH BODIES TO BE ABLE TO TREAT THE KIDS AND THE ADULTS WHO ARE COMING IN, WHO ARE REALLY IN DISTRESS.

WHY THERE IS A SHORTAGE, IT'’S HARD TO SAY.

WHICH CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?

WAS IT THAT WE HAD PEOPLE WHO LEFT THE WORK, OR THERE JUST WASN'’T ENOUGH ACCESS, OR NOW MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND THEY NEED THAT HELP?

AND IT'’S JUST TOO MUCH FOR THE SYSTEM.

CRYSTAL: ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE THIS CONVERSATION THERE.

SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT AND THINK THROUGH.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH ME.

IVANNA SOLANO AND DR. LOVERN MOSELEY, THANK YOU.

FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN COMING FOR SO-CALLED NEPO BABIES IN HOLLYWOOD, FAMOUS ACTORS, MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS WITH PARENTS WHO ARE ALSO FAMOUS ACTORS, MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS, BUT IT'’S NOT EXACTLY A NEW PHENOMENON.

IN A RECENT DEEP DIVE FROM VULTURE, A NEPOTISM YEARBOOK HAS PROMPTED SHOCK INTO HOW MUCH OF HOLLYWOOD GOT THEIR START DUE TO A FAMOUS MOM OR DAD.

JENNIFER ANISTON, ANGELINA JOLIE.

BUT IT'’S NOT JUST HOLLYWOOD.

IN FIELDS FALL ACROSS THE U.S., PARENTS ARE HELPING THEIR KIDS GET THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR.

MATTHEW STAIGER FOUND THAT 29% OF AMERICANS WORK FOR A PARENT'’S EMPLOYER AT LEAST ONCE BY THE AGE OF 30, BUMPING UP THEIR INITIAL EARNINGS BY AN AVERAGE OF 17%.

THIS CORPORATE NEPOTISM DOESN'’T TRANSCEND ACROSS RACE, WITH BLACK MEN FAR LESS LIKELY TO WORK FOR A PARENT'’S EMPLOYER THAN WHITE MEN, COSTING THEM OVER TIME.

MATTHEW STAIGER ATTRIBUTES AROUND 4% OF THE WAGE GAP TO THE LOWER FREQUENCY AT WHICH YOUNG BLACK MEN LANDED A JOB AT A PARENT'’S EMPLOYER.

HE JOINS US NOW.

MATTHEW, I DIDN'’T UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT OF NEPO BABY, BUT IT HAS WIDESPREAD EFFECT.

TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH.

MATTHEW: SURE, I CAN START BY GIVING YOU A BROAD OVERVIEW OF MY PAPER.

IN THE U.S., ECONOMIC OUTCOMES ARE HIGHLY PERSISTENT FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT.

THEY CAN GO ON TO EARN MUCH MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE BORN TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A CONCERN REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT DRIVES THESE PATTERNS.

I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CONNECTIONS IN THE LABOR MARKET SHAPE RATES OF INTERGENIC NATIONAL -- INTERGENERATIONAL ABILITY.

INCOME TO ARE -- INCOMES OF THOSE WHO ARE BORN TO WEALTHIER PARENTS -- I FOCUSED ON THE CONNECTIONS OF THE PARENTS'’ FIRMS, PARENTS PROVIDING ACCESS TO JOBS AT THE FIRMS THEY CURRENTLY WORK FOR.

I TACKLED THIS PROJECT BY ANSWERING THREE QUESTIONS.

FIRST, HOW OFTEN DO PEOPLE WORK FOR THE SAME FIRMS AS THEIR PARENTS AND WHY?

WHAT ARE THE EARNINGS CONSEQUENCES, SECOND.

THIRD, WHO BENEFITS MORE FROM THESE TYPES OF CONNECTIONS?

IT'’S FAIRLY COMMON FOR INDIVIDUALS TO WORK FOR THE SAME FIRMS AS THEIR PARENTS.

29% OF INDIVIDUALS WILL WORK FOR THE SAME FIRM AS A PARENT AT SOME AGE BEFORE 30.

THERE ARE LARGE BURNING BENEFITS FROM DOING SO.

WORKING FOR THE SAME FIRM -- LARGE BURNING -- LARGE EARNING BENEFITS FROM DOING SO.

IT'’S ABOUT 1/4 OF THE RETURN COMES FROM OBTAINING A COLLEGE DEGREE.

THIRD, I FIND THAT HIGH INCOME PARENTS ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO FIND -- PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH-PAYING JOBS.

INDIVIDUALS FROM THOSE BACKGROUNDS TEND TO BENEFIT DISPROPORTIONATELY FROM THIS KIND OF NETWORK CONNECTION.

PUTTING ALL THAT TOGETHER, I FIND ABOUT 7% OF A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE INCOME OF PARENTS AND THE INCOME OF YOUNG WORKERS IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THESE CONNECTIONS THAT OPERATE WITH THEIR PARENTS'’ FIRMS.

TO BE SURE, THESE CONNECTIONS ARE NOT THE MAIN REASON WHY WE SEE THE ECONOMIC OUTCOMES PERSIST FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT.

BUT MY RESULTS TO RAISE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY -- THESE CONNECTIONS BE MORE BROADLY DEFINED.

THESE MAY BE AN IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

CRYSTAL: AS I WAS READING YOUR WORK HERE, WE APOLOGIZE TO FOLKS AT HOME, WE KNOW THE CONNECTION IS A LITTLE BIT SHAKY.

AS I WAS READING SOME OF YOUR WORK, I NOTICED YOU FOCUS IN THE MIDDLE 89% OF INCOME EARNERS.

YOU DIDN'’T DO THE EXTREMELY POOR OR THE EXTREMELY WEALTHY.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO FOCUS ON THAT MIDDLE 89% OR SO?

MATTHEW: THIS IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO DATA LIMITATIONS.

THE DATA ARE USED FOR THIS PROJECT BASICALLY COME FROM TWO SOURCES.

ONE THE DECENNIAL CENSUS SURVEY, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT RUNS TO INTERVIEW EVERYONE IN THE U.S. TO ENUMERATE THE SIZE OF THE POPULATION.

I USE THAT SURVEY TO IDENTIFY THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

THE SECOND PIECE OF DATA IS CALLED THE LEHD DATABASE, BUILT OFF OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RECORDS.

IT CONTAINS INFORMATION ON PEOPLE'’S EARNINGS AND THE IDENTITY OF THEIR EMPLOYER FOR EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES.

USING THOSE DATA, I WAS ABLE TO BUILD A DATA SET THAT TOLD ME BOTH WHERE PEOPLE WORK, HOW MUCH THEY EARN, AND WHO THEIR PARENTS WERE.

THOSE WERE THE KEY FEATURES I NEEDED TO TACKLE MY QUESTION OF INTEREST.

ONE LIMITATION OF THIS DATA IS THEY DON'’T DO A GOOD JOB OF COVERING THE BOTTOM 10% OF EARNERS AND THE TOP 1%.

THAT'’S PRIMARILY BECAUSE, FOR THOSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, THE MAJOR SOURCE OF THEIR INCOME IS OUTSIDE OF EARNINGS THAT ARE COVERED BY THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

SIMPLY BY NECESSITY OR LIMITATION OF THE DATA THAT I WAS USING, I WAS FOCUSED ON THIS MIDDLE CHUNK OF INCOME DISTRIBUTION.

THE POPULAR FOCUS ON NEPO BABIES IN HOLLYWOOD PROBABLY HAS MORE TO DO WITH WHAT'’S GOING ON IN THE HIGH END OF INCOME DISTRIBUTION.

MAYBE ONE POINT TO TAKE AWAY FROM MY PAPER IS THIS PHENOMENON TAKES PLACE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRIBUTION, AND IT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE CELEBRITIES OR HIGHEST EARNERS.

CRYSTAL: WE GAVE THE STATISTIC ABOUT THE WEALTH GAP.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER HARMS THAT CAN COME FROM BASICALLY PARENTS JUST TRYING TO HELP OUT THEIR KIDS?

MATTHEW: RIGHT.

SO, TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, IT'’S KIND OF AN INTERESTING FINDING.

SOME RECENT WORK BY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AT OPPORTUNITY INSIGHTS HAS PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THE GAP THAT WE FIND IN ECONOMIC OUTCOMES BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE INDIVIDUALS IS UNLIKELY TO CLOSE OVER TIME IN FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE, ON AVERAGE, BLACK BOYS TEND TO GROW UP TO EARN LESS THAN WHITE BOYS, EVEN WHEN LOOKING AT PARENTS WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME INCOME.

ONE OF THE FINDINGS OF MY PAPER IS THAT BLACK BOYS ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LIKELY TO WORK FOR A PARENT'’S EMPLOYER, RELATIVE TO WHITE BOYS, EVEN WHEN LOOKING AT CHILDREN BORN TO PARENTS WITH THE SAME INCOME.

THE APPLICATION IS THAT PART OF THE REASON WHY RACIAL GAPS, AT LEAST BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE INDIVIDUALS, ARE LIKELY TO PERSIST IN FUTURE GENERATIONS IS BECAUSE WHITE CHILDREN DISPROPORTIONATELY BENEFIT FROM GAINING ACCESS TO JOBS THROUGH THEIR PARENTS'’ CONNECTIONS.

CRYSTAL: IN THE LAST MINUTE OR SO, IS THIS A PROBLEM THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO SOLVE FOR?

OR IS IT JUST A MATTER OF BEING MORE AWARE IN TERMS OF HIRING PRACTICES ON A HIGHER CORPORATE LEVEL?

MATTHEW: I THINK TWO RESPONSES TO THAT.

MY PAPER IS REALLY FOCUSING ON ONE NARROW TYPE OF INTERACTION -- CONNECTION.

I FIND THAT THESE CONNECTIONS EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN 10% OF THE REASON WHY INEQUALITY PERSISTS FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT.

THIS IS NOT THE MAIN REASON WHY INEQUALITY PERSISTS FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT.

THE FIRST IMPLICATION OF THE STUDY IS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT LABOR MARKET NUMBERS MORE BROADLY DEFINED.

IF IT'’S THE CASE WHEN WE CONSIDER ALL LABOR MARKET NETWORKS, THESE ARE AN IMPORTANT SHAPER OF HOW INEQUALITY PERSISTS FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT, THEN WE COULD START THINKING MORE SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

I WOULD SAY THE MAIN CONCERN THAT THIS WOULD RAISE IS RELATED TO FAIRNESS.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD AGREE THAT IT'’S UNFAIR THAT INDIVIDUALS FROM HIGH INCOME FAMILIES GET A LEG UP BECAUSE OF THE LABOR MARKET CONNECTIONS OF THEIR PARENTS.

IN THAT SENSE, I THINK WE SHOULD POTENTIALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

BUT THAT POINT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW PREVALENT AND HOW IMPORTANT THE WIDER ASPECTS OF NETWORKS ARE IN RATES OF INTERGENERATIONAL INEQUALITY.

CRYSTAL: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THAT'’S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

♪ ♪ ♪ EDGAR: HEY, FOLKS.

TODAY WE'’RE IN COPLEY SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON.

USUALLY I'’M THE GUY WHO ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT TODAY, YOU ARE GOING TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UNWRITTEN RULES AND QUIRKS OF LIFE IN BOSTON.

>> NO RESPECTABLE BOSTONIAN CALLS IT BEANTOWN.

>> SOME PEOPLE CALL US THE 617 '’CAUSE 617 IS THE BOSTON AREA CODE.

>> YEAH, THE BEAN.

WELL, THAT'’S WHAT I'’VE HEARD IT AS.

THE BEAN.

BOSTON THE BEAN.

BAKED BEANS, I DON'’T KNOW.

>> WHEN I SEE THE MAILMAN, HE WEARS SHORTS.

YOU KNOW?

[LAUGHS] AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE WEAR SHORTS, I GUESS IT'’S A FAD.

>> I NEVER COULD GET INTO SHORTS IN THE WINTER, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME BOSTONIANS THAT CAN DO THAT.

>> SHOW US IF YOU CAN HANG, IF YOU CAN HANDLE THE COLD, I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND WEARING SHORTS.

>> THE STREETS AREN'’T LIKE OTHER CITIES, LIKE HOW IT'’S MORE GRID-LIKE.

OURS IS LITERALLY ALL OVER THE PLACE.

YOU COULD BE ON ONE STREET FOR A MINUTE AND THAT STREET WILL LITERALLY TURN INTO ANOTHER STREET AND YOU WON'’T REALIZE IT.

THERE'’S A LOT OF ONE WAYS.

THERE'’S A LOT OF DEAD ENDS.

THERE'’S A LOT OF CUL-DE-SACS.

>> DON'’T DRIVE YOUR CAR FROM PLACE TO PLACE, IT'’S NOT GONNA WORK.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU CAN'’T GET PARKING, EVEN IF YOU WANTED IT WHERE YOU WANT IT.

AND SECONDLY, YOU'’RE GONNA BE FORCED TO SPEND WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER A MORTGAGE FOR YOUR HOUSE TO GET A PARKING SPACE.

>> I HAVE BEEN USING THE T, BUT IT'’S SUPER SIMPLE FOR ME.

IT'’S REALLY EASY.

IT GETS ME WHERE I'’M GOIN'’ PRETTY FAST.

>> THE T IS FRUSTRATING.

IT'’S GONNA TAKE YOU ABOUT AN HOUR TO GET ANYWHERE ON IT.

IT'’S GONNA TAKE YOU A WHILE SO BE PATIENT, RELAX, BRING A BOOK.

I FELT LIKE THIS IS A PRETTY ACCESSIBLE CITY BY FOOT.

[CAR HONKING] >> THERE'’S SO MANY TIMES WHERE I'’VE ALMOST RAN PEOPLE OVER FOR JAYWALKING AND THEN WE DO IT, SO - >> I MEAN, WHO WANTS TO GO FROM CORNER TO CORNER TO CROSS THE STREET?

IF I SEE THAT IT'’S CLEAR, I JAYWALK.

>> ONE THING THEY DON'’T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, IRON DON'’T CRY.

>> JAYWALKING'’S PART OF OUR REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT.

THAT'’S HOW WE KEEP IT ALIVE.

I'’M VERY GOOD.

PERSONALLY, I'’M VERY GOOD AT IT.

I HAVEN'’T LOST ANYBODY NOW IN THREE WEEKS.

EDGAR: WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT.

DON'’T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE, AND LET ME KNOW WHAT UNWRITTEN RULES OF BOSTON YOU LIVE BY, OR LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU'’RE CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE I MIGHT JUST LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

I'’M EDGAR B. HERWICK III, STAY