Wealth

What it is and why it is important

Wealth research investigates the accumulation, distribution, and impact of wealth within and across societies.

Our research helps in developing policies that address economic disparities and promote fairer wealth distribution, thereby enhancing opportunities for upward social mobility across generations.

Key research topics in this field include:

  • Patterns and trends in wealth inequality and its drivers.
  • The effects of wealth disparities on social mobility and economic opportunities.
  • The role of inheritance, savings, and investments in wealth accumulation and intergenerational transfers.

Related Research Papers

Of Cities and Slums

Working Paper

Analytic Approaches to Measuring the Black-White Wealth Gap

Working Paper

Episode #34: Cristobal Young on ‘The Myth’ of Millionaire Tax Flight

Featured Episode In Wealth

July 21, 2025
Even in high-tax states, most millionaires stay put. Cristobal Young joins Steven Durlauf and Geoff Wodtke to explain why the wealthy remain rooted, and what tax return and census data reveal about mobility, local ties, and the myth of tax flight.