Melissa S. Kearney

About the Author

Melissa S. Kearney is a distinguished economist and professor renowned for her insightful analyses of family dynamics, economic inequality, and social policy in contemporary America. With a PhD from Harvard University, she has held prestigious positions at institutions like the University of Maryland and the Brookings Institution, where her research bridges rigorous data-driven scholarship with accessible prose to illuminate pressing societal issues. Kearney's work challenges conventional wisdom on how family structures influence economic outcomes, advocating for evidence-based approaches to policy reform. In her acclaimed book, The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind, she explores the profound impacts of declining marriage rates on intergenerational mobility and national prosperity, offering a compelling case for understanding the 'two-parent privilege' in shaping America's future.