Why do economist say equal opportunity is a myth? What role does globalization and economic inequality play in this "myth"?

Because the conditions your born into create inherent inequality. Assume that two totally identical people are born at exactly the same time. One has a $10,000,000 trust fund that he gets when he graduates college, while the other is born into a family of medical doctors. Even though both start out with privilege, the one who automatically has a fortune waiting on him will come to view the world differently, and have different opportunities. How could these two people ever be said to have had equal opportunity?

Globalization, like any other force, creates the idea that everyone has "a chance." The myth says that everyone can rise above and take hold of opportunities, but that simply isn't true. Consider, would an average child, raised in a Harlem, ever have the same opportunities presented to him that a prince, raised in Saudi Arabia, does?

The myth is that each of us has the opportunity to make something of ourselves. In some ways, this idea is true. Each of us does have the opportunity to make ourselves better in someway, to enrich and help other people, and so forth. In terms of economics, however, this doesn't hold. Many people do not possess the skills or knowledge necessary to prosper, while others will never get the opportunity to. Consider the average, intelligent person, raised in poverty, in a war torn third world nation. He will not receive the education or skill sets necessary to become a doctor. While a small, lucky few might get out and eventually come out ahead, the majority will not.

Your life chances are the same as kid in a remote village in as poor country or a rich kid in a large villa?