The Origin and Future of Economic Inequality

Lecture | Public Event
Location The Sky Suite at The Keller Center, Harris School of Public Policy, 1307 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637
Featured Speakers Samuel Bowles
Research Areas Policy and Political Economy, Wealth, Mobility, Income

Join us for an evening of deep reflection and insight with Samuel Bowles, one of the most influential scholars of socioeconomic inequality. A former advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bowles has spent his career at the intersection of economics and social justice, advancing trailblazing research on how inequality is created, sustained, and justified.

From advising U.S. presidential candidates like John F. Kennedy and Jesse Jackson, to collaborating on policy development for governments including South Africa, Cuba, and Greece, Bowles has a long legacy of bridging rigorous economic analysis with applied policy. Known for challenging the traditional assumption of self-interest in economics and the idea that inequality and free markets maximize efficiency—as seen in his debate with Milton Friedman—he is world recognized for his profound contributions to economic theory.

This rare and intimate talk will explore the structural origins of inequality and how transformative policy and research can shape a more equitable future.