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.
It’s no secret that college is expensive, and that lower-income students often require more assistance to manage those high costs. What’s less well known is how access to credit—or the lack thereof—can enhance or reduce inequality.
Wendy Carlin oversees CORE Econ, a project that aims to refocus the undergraduate economics curriculum on “the most important problems faced by our societies." Steven Durlauf sits down with Carlin to discuss the initiative and her research.
Education policy sparks intense debate, from school choice to testing. Caterina Calsamiglia joins Steven Durlauf to explore how evidence-based research can improve decision-making, equity, and outcomes in education.
Whatever a country's level of income inequality, its level of wealth inequality is even worse—and the two aren't always linked. Fabian Pfeffer joins Steven Durlauf to uncover what drives the wealth gap and how it shapes opportunity across generations.
In standard economics, people seek utility. But what if identity—who we think we are—shapes what we should want? Rachel Kranton joins Steven Durlauf and Ariel Kalil to explore how identity transforms how economists understand schools, gender, work, and choice.
Why don’t more qualified young people pursue college? Today’s episode explores this question with economists Salvador Navarro and Stephen Trejo, in conversations with host Steven Durlauf on the barriers to college and the persistent gaps facing Hispanic Americans.
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.
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.
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.
