In a celebrated US study of income mobility, economist Raj Chetty and three colleagues have found that location -- the area or city in which one lives -- is highly correlated with one's social mobility chances. More specifically, living in a predominantly middle class area boosts a poor child's chances for intergenerational mobility into middle class status. Conversely, policy measures aimed directly at growing the middle class today have the consequence of giving an upward mobility push to children now living in poverty or the lower class.
Whether a location has the 'nourishment' which directly confer middle class status to the next generation, or is instead merely the reflection and 'effect' of middle class living, remains an unresolved question -- but one which does not hold back the enthusiasm patently displayed by Chetty and his colleagues. The full study is not readily available online, as far as I can see, but you will find a useful summary and equally valuable links here>>>
