About

The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility at the University of Chicago advances groundbreaking, interdisciplinary research on the origins and nature of contemporary inequalities.

Led by economists Steven Durlauf and Damon Jones of the Harris School of Public Policy, sociologist Geoffrey Wodtke of the Department of Sociology, and Executive Director Grace Kolavo, the Stone Center unifies perspectives on inequality by serving as a hub for collaboration, discussion, and debate.

With a thriving research community that includes thought leaders within and beyond the social sciences, the Stone Center addresses high-impact research questions that transcend disciplinary boundaries. Emphasizing phenomena over specific fields or disciplines, the center endeavors to comprehensively understand how factors such as education, class, occupation, income, wealth, and others contribute to socioeconomic mobility.

By exchanging ideas, integrating approaches, and confronting empirical challenges, the center is generating the rigorous research necessary to guide effective policy solutions to ameliorate socioeconomic inequality, promote mobility, and improve economic well-being.

Discover the latest research findings through our events, working papers, and podcasts.

Many axes may be used to study inequality: economics, sociology, psychology, and political science. Our objective is to move beyond thinking of the form “from an economist’s perspective.” To understand inequality phenomena, you need to have all the perspectives.

Steven Durlauf