The Inequality Podcast

Millions of American workers face uncertainty—unstable hours, sudden shift changes, and the constant threat of job loss. Host Geoff Wodtke speaks with Jake Rosenfeld on the decline of labor unions and Daniel Schneider on how precarious work affects households.

We explore the history of gender inequality with economist Martha Bailey on War on Poverty programs and sociologist Natasha Quadlin on education and the job market.

Lauren Rivera, author of Pedigree, reveals how hiring at elite firms often perpetuates privilege. In this conversation with Steven Durlauf, she critiques meritocracy’s failures for women, minorities, and people with disabilities.

Host Steven Durlauf speaks with David Lay Williams on how 2,500 years of political thought—from Plato to Marx—shaped our understanding of economic inequality.

Host Steven Durlauf speaks with Alberto Bisin and Jean-Philippe Bouchaud on how insights from physics, math, and history transform the study of wealth inequality.

College athletics is in flux as NIL deals redefine the athlete experience. This live panel, moderated by Damon Jones, features Bomani Jones, Ilyana Kuziemko, Matthew Notowidigdo, and Kenneth Shropshire, exploring the broader context of paying college athletes.

Harvard’s Christopher Muller traces the roots of mass incarceration in labor demand, while Duke’s Hedy Lee explores its toll on families, from mental health to financial strain.

Economist Bhash Mazumder shares insights on intergenerational mobility with host Steven Durlauf, exploring income mobility, flawed estimates, health metrics, and the impacts of redlining and urban renewal on mobility in the US.

Inequality is often viewed through macro-level forces. Today, we shift focus to smaller-scale factors: Steven Durlauf and Ariel Kalil discuss family roles in inequality, while Mesmin Destin explores identity-based motivation and interventions like peer mentorship.

Neighborhoods and schools impact inequality and mobility through factors like socioeconomic status, segregation, and resources. The episode's guests discuss how these environments shape opportunities and outcomes, with a focus on neighborhood effects.