Date of Graduation

5-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Finance

Advisor/Mentor

Trivitt, Julie

Committee Member/Reader

Sheets, Ryan

Abstract

For decades, the income inequality gap between the rich and poor has continued to expand dramatically, with criticism of existing education systems often at the heart of the issue. Large urban cities are commonly at the forefront of the issue, given the plethora of teacher strikes in recent years. Events such as the 11-day Chicago teacher’s strike in October of 2019 that idled academics and college prep for 350,000 students, have highlighted many current education issues (Hauck, 2019). With underfunded and poorly equipped middle and high schools, students in poor and minority neighborhoods in cities are less prepared academically, ill equipped to secure college acceptance, and lack the financial resources available to effectively pursue higher education (Haveman & Smeeding, 2006). Studies conducted by Chetty (2010) and Duncan (2017) have shown a strong link between access to education and income inequality. As Atlanta ranks worst in large city income inequality nationwide and consistently struggles with poverty rates around 25%, it will be the focus of this proposed city plan to explore existing poverty issues through the scope of education (Gongloff, 2017). Proposals are then given for education reforms to help combat income inequality through educational mobility. The overall targets of these reforms are to combat the initial gap in opportunities for students, the overall long-term income potential of low-income students, and improvements in teacher quality in Atlanta and urban schools overall.

Keywords

Income Inequality; Inequality; Economic Policy; Atlanta; Education

Download

Share

COinS