The Inequality Podcast

We bring together scholars across disciplines to discuss the causes and consequences of inequality and strategies to promote economic mobility. Listen and discover novel insights and strategies to address today’s most pressing issues in inequality.

Filter

Episode #25: Peter Boettke on Classical Liberalism’s Moral Philosophy

March 24, 2025

Economist Peter Boettke joins Steven Durlauf to explore a more hopeful side of economics—as a moral science focused on human flourishing. They discuss the Austrian school, classical liberalism, and the intellectual roots of this tradition.

Episode #24: The Age of Unpredictable and Precarious Work, featuring Jake Rosenfeld and Daniel Schneider

March 10, 2025

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.

Episode #21: David Lay Williams on the Intellectual History of Inequality

January 27, 2025

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.

Episode #19: Sports, Race, and Labor, Featuring Bomani Jones, Ilyana Kuziemko, Matthew Notowidigdo, and Kenneth Shropshire

December 30, 2024

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.

Episode #12: Book Talk on The Two-Parent Privilege by Melissa Kearney (Live Recording)

January 22, 2024

Melissa Kearney discusses her new book with an expert panel. They explore how modern trends in family structure perpetuate inequality and erode social mobility. They also dive into the evidence of the effects of family structure on childhood outcomes.

Episode #11: Conversations on Inequality and Public Policy — Affirmative Action with Glenn Loury (Live Recording)

December 18, 2023
GuestsGlenn Loury

Steven and Glenn Loury discuss different perspectives on affirmative action and present arguments on both sides of a complex and nuanced issue with the hope of fostering an informed citizenry. Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, Dean of the Harris School, moderates the talk.

Episode #10: Guido Alfani on the History of the Rich in the West

December 4, 2023
GuestsGuido Alfani

Steven talks to Guido Alfani about the history of wealth inequality. They discuss how the roles and perceptions of the rich have changed, touching on moments in Western civilization, such as the Renaissance, the Middle Ages, the Industrial Revolution, and modernity.

Episode #9: Conrad Miller on Affirmative Action and Discrimination

November 13, 2023

Conrad Miller joins Steven to discuss discrimination and affirmative action. The conversation digs into the methodology and findings from four of Conrad's papers that illustrate how policy can be used in addressing discriminatory hiring practices and beliefs.