What helps poor kids grow up to make better decisions about money? A new study of 25 million people finds an unexpected answer.
Wall Street JournalThursday, July 17, 2025 at 12:00:00 AM
Turns out, the secret to helping kids from low-income families make smarter financial decisions later in life isn’t just about teaching them budgeting skills—it’s about giving them access to better neighborhoods. A massive study tracking 25 million people found that kids who moved to areas with less poverty, better schools, and more economic opportunity grew up to be more financially savvy adults. The surprise? It wasn’t just about income—it was the environment itself that seemed to shape their money habits.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another study about poverty—it’s a game-changer for how we think about breaking cycles of financial struggle. If where kids grow up has this much impact, policies like affordable housing or zoning reforms could be way more powerful than we realized. It’s a reminder that opportunity isn’t just about cash; it’s about the invisible forces—community, education, even your neighbors—that shape how people navigate money for life.
— Curated via WP Now’s
