Race and Ethnicity

What it is and why it is important

Race and ethnicity research investigates how systemic and structural factors contribute to disparities in wealth accumulation and social mobility among different racial and ethnic groups.

Our research helps to understand and address racial and ethnic disparities, ensuring that all individuals have equal opportunities to contribute to and benefit from economic activities.

Key research topics in this field include:

  • Racial and ethnic disparities in income, education, and employment.
  • The impact of race and ethnicity on health outcomes and access to resources.
  • The role of race and ethnicity in shaping social and political institutions and policies.

Various types of segregation aren’t properties about a person—they’re properties about a population. Thinking about features of inequality that are defined at a collective level gives important insights into phenomena such as poverty traps or affluence traps.

Steven Durlauf

Related Events

Related Research Papers

From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice in Schools 

Working Paper

The Social Construction of Race during Reconstruction

Working Paper

Episode #29: Deirdre Bloome on Intergenerational-Contextual Approaches to Inequality

Featured Episode In Race and Ethnicity

May 19, 2025
Harvard Professor Deirdre Bloome joins host Steven Durlauf to discuss her work measuring the historical evolution of racial inequalities in the family and the economy, and their lasting impact on mobility.