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 #35: Eric Schliesser on Adam Smith’s Warnings About Inequality

Featured Episode In Wealth

August 11, 2025
Guests Eric Schliesser
Adam Smith is often remembered for championing free markets, but his moral philosophy on inequality and power is less known. Eric Schliesser joins Steven Durlauf to discuss this side of Smith and the decline of the economist as moral philosopher.