The Inequality Working Group

Description

The Inequality Working Group is a biweekly meeting dedicated to fostering discussion and collaboration among graduate students and early career researchers. Moving away from a traditional seminar format, the working group facilitates a reading group driven by student presentations that emphasizes discussion and active participation. Under this model, participants are encouraged to deliver guidance to and invite assistance from graduate students pursuing challenging research projects, thereby developing meaningful collaborative relationships. This format enables faculty and students alike to engage with early-stage, ongoing research.

The 2024 program is presented by Director Steven Durlauf, Associate Director Geoff Wodtke, and Postdoctoral Scholar Kristina Butaeva. Due to the close and enduring nature of the working relationships, participation in the Inequality Working Group is by admit only. Please see the Call for Applications page for details; applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Location

The Keller Center
Room 4009, Fourth Floor
1307 E 60th St.
Chicago, IL 60637

Schedule

Date Time Location Mentor TopicResearch Paper(s)
Wed, Oct. 23, 2024 5:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009 Geoff Wodtke
Neighborhood Poverty and Social Mobility: An Introduction

Small, Mario Luis, and Katherine Newman. 2001. “Urban poverty after the truly disadvantaged: The rediscovery of the family, the neighborhood, and culture.” Annual Review of Sociology 27:23-45.

Sharkey, Patrick, and Jacob W. Faber. 2014. “Where, when, why, and for whom do residential contexts matter? Moving away from the dichotomous understanding of neighborhood effects.” Annual Review of Sociology 40: 559-579.

Presentation Slides
Wed, Nov. 6, 2024 5:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Geoff Wodtke
Neighborhoods and Environmental Inequality

Wodtke, Geoffrey T., Sagi Ramaj, and Jared Schachner. 2022. “Toxic neighborhoods: The effects of concentrated poverty and environmental lead contamination on early childhood development.” Demography 59:1275-1298.

Presentation Slides
Wed, Nov. 20, 20245:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Geoff Wodtke
The Geography of Opportunity

Chetty, Raj, et al. 2014. “Where is the land of opportunity? The geography of intergenerational mobility in the United States.” The Quarterly Journal of Economics 129:1553-1623.

N. Cholli, S. Durlauf, R. Landerson and S. Navarro. 2024. “Understanding the Heterogeneity of Intergenerational Mobility Across Neighborhoods.” The National Bureau of Economic Research. WP 33035.
Wed, Dec. 4, 20245:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Geoff Wodtke
Neighborhood Mobility Programs


Rosenbaum, James E. 1995. “Changing the geography of opportunity by expanding residential choice: Lessons from the Gautreaux program.” Housing Policy Debate 6:231-269.

Bergman, Peter, et al. 2024. “Creating moves to opportunity: Experimental evidence on barriers to neighborhood choice.” American Economic Review 114:1281-1337.
Wed, Jan. 15, 20255:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Steven DurlaufTo Be Determined
Wed, Jan. 29, 20255:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Steven DurlaufTo Be Determined
Wed, Feb. 12, 20255:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Steven DurlaufTo Be Determined
Wed, Feb. 26, 20255:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Steven DurlaufTo Be Determined
Wed, Apr. 2, 20255:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Kristina ButaevaTo Be Determined
Wed, Apr. 16, 20255:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Kristina ButaevaTo Be Determined
Wed, Apr. 30, 20255:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Kristina ButaevaTo Be Determined
Wed, May. 14, 20255:00 PM – 6:30 PMKELL 4009Kristina ButaevaTo Be Determined