Income

What it is and why it is important

Income research investigates the causes, patterns and changes in the distribution of income across different populations and its impact on economic and social outcomes.

Our research provides insights into how to create opportunities for upward economic mobility, reducing poverty and enhancing social stability.

Key research topics in this field include:

  • Income inequality and its drivers.
  • The relationship between income levels and access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.
  • The effects of public policies, such as minimum wage laws and tax policies, on income distribution and poverty.

Related Research Papers

Complexity Theory and Economic Inequality

Working Paper

The Labor Market Returns to Delaying Pregnancy

Working Paper

Episode #50: Joseph Stiglitz on Pioneering the Economics of Inequality

Featured Episode In Income

March 9, 2026
For our 50th episode, Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz reflects on six decades studying inequality. The Columbia economist, author, and former Clinton White House advisor discusses the ideas that shaped his career and how new technologies like AI may influence inequality.