Kamala Harris Has Proposed an ‘Opportunity Economy.’ This Is How to Make It a Reality.

At the start of her debate with Donald Trump, Kamala Harris spoke about building an “opportunity economy.” What does that mean, and how can we create one?

I’ve been studying the science of economic opportunity for many years with my Harvard-based group, Opportunity Insights. We’ve analyzed all sorts of data, from anonymized tax returns to school-district databases and the social networks of hundreds of millions of Americans.

An opportunity economy prioritizes equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcomes. In such an economy, we all have the chance to achieve our potential, even if some people ultimately end up earning more than others. Right now, opportunity is not equally distributed in America: People’s chances of achieving success vary widely depending upon their parents’ income, racial background and ZIP code.

While views about income redistribution using taxes are divided, equality of opportunity is a principle that appeals to Americans across the political spectrum. Most people agree that it’s unfair if your fate is determined by the family you happen to be born into or where you grow up.

But equality of opportunity is not just about fairness; it’s also about increasing economic growth and innovation. By giving everyone a chance to succeed, we better harness our talents to fill critical work force shortages, make new discoveries and start new businesses.

This is why an opportunity economy has real political promise as a unifying goal for Americans.

Ms. Harris has begun to sketch out a federal program for this kind of economy. To help fill out her plan, and for voters curious to hear more about what it might mean, this is what we’ve learned about how to make this vision a reality for many Americans.