Each row shows where Memphis sits on the national distribution for one economic concept across all three mobility measures.

All income a person receives, including wages and transfers.

α Absolute mobility 4th percentile

this county national median

20.98 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 93rd percentile

this county national median

0.45 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 65th percentile

this county national median

The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

Income earned from work (wages and salaries).

α Absolute mobility 2nd percentile

this county national median

26.85 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 95th percentile

this county national median

0.44 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 92nd percentile

this county national median

13.55 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The probability of owning a home (the extensive margin of housing wealth).

α Absolute mobility 5th percentile

this county national median

43.40 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 89th percentile

this county national median

0.61 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 55th percentile

this county national median

-9.46 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The value of housing assets a person holds.

α Absolute mobility 4th percentile

this county national median

30.51 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 84th percentile

this county national median

0.47 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 67th percentile

this county national median

-0.11 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The total value of all assets a person holds.

α Absolute mobility 5th percentile

this county national median

29.36 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 91st percentile

this county national median

0.43 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 91st percentile

this county national median

10.50 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

County	State	α (absolute mobility)	β (persistence)	δ (extensive margin)	n
Benton	MS	37.44	0.267	-3.36	100
Crittenden	AR	29.75	0.357	3.34	550
DeSoto	MS	35.96	0.322	8.15	850
Fayette	TN	30.69	0.353	10.89	450
Marshall	MS	34.22	0.288	5.36	450
Shelby	TN	27.66	0.471	11.64	7800
Tate	MS	38.40	0.244	7.88	300
Tipton	TN	32.01	0.361	12.43	650
Tunica	MS	25.21	0.314	11.16	150

Memphis

The five lenses at a glance