In Focus: John Friedman on social mobility John Friedman, professor of economics at Brown University and co-founder of Opportunity Insights, discusses how big data is propelling upward mobility, misconceptions on "high mobility neighborhoods" and how investment managers can help close the opportunity gap. (02/2020) Friedman delivered the final keynote, Closing the Opportunity Gap: Social Mobility and Income Inequality, Examining Costs, Risks and Solutions, at the Visions, Insights & Perspectives (VIP) Americas 2020 conference, in Dana Point, Calif.