How extreme geographic inequality could explain our polarized politics | Kenan Fikri

Nearly 1 in 6 Americans lives in a “distressed” community. Where these Americans live and what they experience could explain alot about the rise of Trump. As the architect of the Economic Innovation Group’s DistressedCommunities Index, Senior Fellow Kenan Fikri has spent the better part of the last decade discovering who is prospering in America—and where. The maldistribution of American opportunity, he warns, has led to stark divides, economically, socially and politically. On the other hand, he argues, understanding the geography of opportunity could help to heal these rifts. Host: Anne KimGuest: Kenan Fikri, Senior Fellow, Economic Innovation GroupChapters00:00 Introduction to Distressed Communities Index01:48 Understanding Economic Distress04:10 Geographic Distribution of Distress05:58 Demographics of Distressed Communities09:33 Gender Disparities in Economic Opportunity09:51 Impact of Education on Community Well-Being14:25 Health Outcomes in Distressed Communities16:58 Political Polarization and Economic Distress20:58 Solutions for Regional Inequality