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.
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.
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.
Steven and Xi Song talk about how intergenerational mobility declined in the U.S. after World War II, then discuss the diversity of experiences for different groups. Xi shares more about the trends in mobility broken down by race, immigration status, and gender.
Steven and Geoff are joined by Michael Esposito to discuss racial health disparities that continue to plague the U.S. They explore how redlining, law enforcement practices, and unequal access to medical care contribute to racial gaps in health and mortality outcomes.
Steven and Matthew Kahn discuss the interactions between inequality and climate change. Matthew outlines how changes in the environment alter lives across the globe, from hurricane-ravaged residents of New Orleans to rice-farmers-turned-shrimp-sellers in Dhaka.
Steven and Geoff talk to Nathan Wilmers about inequality in the labor market. He covers trends in wage inequality, declining union participation, the challenges of internal promotion, and the relationship between unequal income distribution and the luxury goods market.
Shelly Lundberg covers the long-embedded gender gaps in many professions, including economics. She and Steven explore anti-discrimination legislation aimed at correcting disparities, and the flawed ways that economists have traditionally taught and measured them.
Steven and Luis Bettencourt discuss what cities can teach us about inequality. With interests in ecology, sociology, and physics, Luis shares insights from these disciplines to the study of inequality in urban landscapes to understand growth, opportunity, and mobility.
In this bonus episode, Sam Bowles dives deep into the ancient origins of inequality, Marxian economic theory, the evolution of the economics curriculum, and The Moral Economy.
Steven and Sam Bowles cover a scholarly gamut, including Sam’s upbringing, his transformative encounter with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his thoughts on equality of voice in capitalist structures, and the ethical courage of pursuing questions rather than answers.
