Steven Durlauf
@durlauf.bsky.social
Professor, Harris School of Public Policy, Director, Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility, University of Chicago
Delighted to post this recording of my public conversation with Sam Bowles, moderated by @ethanbdm.bsky.social,
on Why Economic Inequalities Endure.
Our discussion ranges from the distant past to speculation on how AI will affect future inequality.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG0C...
on Why Economic Inequalities Endure.
Our discussion ranges from the distant past to speculation on how AI will affect future inequality.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG0C...
UChicago Stone Center | Why Economic Inequalities Endure
YouTube video by Harris Public Policy
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Delighted to post this recording of my public conversation with Sam Bowles, moderated by @ethanbdm.bsky.social,
on Why Economic Inequalities Endure.
Our discussion ranges from the distant past to speculation on how AI will affect future inequality.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG0C...
on Why Economic Inequalities Endure.
Our discussion ranges from the distant past to speculation on how AI will affect future inequality.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG0C...
Reposted by Steven Durlauf
It's not a perfect analogy but I've been thinking about this 1792 cartoon ever since I saw yesterday's photo
November 23, 2025 at 1:24 AM
It's not a perfect analogy but I've been thinking about this 1792 cartoon ever since I saw yesterday's photo
Honored to introduce Samuel Bowles Public Lecture The Origin and Future of Inequality, part of 3 days organized by
@ucstonecenter.bsky.social.
Sam has been an inspiration, both intellectually and morally to me, as well as to so many in the profession.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV-9...
@ucstonecenter.bsky.social.
Sam has been an inspiration, both intellectually and morally to me, as well as to so many in the profession.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV-9...
UChicago Stone Center | The Origin and Future of Economic Inequality by Samuel Bowles
YouTube video by Harris Public Policy
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Honored to introduce Samuel Bowles Public Lecture The Origin and Future of Inequality, part of 3 days organized by
@ucstonecenter.bsky.social.
Sam has been an inspiration, both intellectually and morally to me, as well as to so many in the profession.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV-9...
@ucstonecenter.bsky.social.
Sam has been an inspiration, both intellectually and morally to me, as well as to so many in the profession.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV-9...
Great paper with important implications for understanding life cycle inequalities. For example, one can see how strong memory of in labor market trajectories can lead to amplification of the experience of early career discrimination. Recommended!
Studying the causal effect of different early career occupational experiences on labor market outcomes, from @jessebruhn.bsky.social, Jacob Fabian, Luke Gallagher, Matthew Gudgeon, Adam Isen, and Aaron R. Phipps www.nber.org/papers/w34463
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Great paper with important implications for understanding life cycle inequalities. For example, one can see how strong memory of in labor market trajectories can lead to amplification of the experience of early career discrimination. Recommended!
Very pleased that this interesting conversation between Doug Downey and @gtwodtke.bsky.social on schools and inequality has posted.
Doug Downey wants to convince you that schools actually reduce inequality, not expand it. In his conversation with @gtwodtke.bsky.social, they examine how the education system likely compensates for SES gaps and why school reforms are a band-aid fix to root problems.
Listen now → bit.ly/48nPLij
Listen now → bit.ly/48nPLij
November 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Very pleased that this interesting conversation between Doug Downey and @gtwodtke.bsky.social on schools and inequality has posted.
CSWEP strongly condemns Larry Summers’ behavior as revealed in the email correspondence with the late Jeffrey Epstein. While abuse of power in the economics profession is not new, rarely has the intent behind such abuse been so clearly stated.
November 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Steven Durlauf
Billionaire wealth keeps climbing, but the gains don't seem to reach everyone else. Steven Durlauf (@durlauf.bsky.social) tells @marketplace.org that tax cuts for the wealthy don’t boost growth the way trickle-down theory promises.
Tax cuts for the wealthy are, in theory, supposed to stimulate economic growth. So why don’t those benefits trickle down?
Why doesn’t trickle-down economics work in practice?
The very rich have 1,000 times more wealth than the poorest households, according to a new report. That wealth is not improving the livelihoods of other people in the economy.
www.marketplace.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Billionaire wealth keeps climbing, but the gains don't seem to reach everyone else. Steven Durlauf (@durlauf.bsky.social) tells @marketplace.org that tax cuts for the wealthy don’t boost growth the way trickle-down theory promises.
The proudest moment of my life was my admission to
Harvard in 1976. Today I am deeply ashamed. @harvard.edu must revoke Summers' University Professorship. His holding the school's highest honor debases the university and is an insult to every woman and person of color in the academic community.
Harvard in 1976. Today I am deeply ashamed. @harvard.edu must revoke Summers' University Professorship. His holding the school's highest honor debases the university and is an insult to every woman and person of color in the academic community.
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: Jeffrey E. Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ | News | The Harvard Crimson
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: convicted sex offender…
www.thecrimson.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The proudest moment of my life was my admission to
Harvard in 1976. Today I am deeply ashamed. @harvard.edu must revoke Summers' University Professorship. His holding the school's highest honor debases the university and is an insult to every woman and person of color in the academic community.
Harvard in 1976. Today I am deeply ashamed. @harvard.edu must revoke Summers' University Professorship. His holding the school's highest honor debases the university and is an insult to every woman and person of color in the academic community.
T1/ his article deserves the Scottish verdict for op eds. It does not make the case for the policies it advocates.
The first problem is that the authors do not make clear arguments about the justification for price in housing and energy markets. Invocation of public support is not a justification.
The first problem is that the authors do not make clear arguments about the justification for price in housing and energy markets. Invocation of public support is not a justification.
In a cost-of-living crisis, the question for policymakers “isn’t whether to intervene, but how to do so in a way that delivers relief today without creating new problems tomorrow,” Neale Mahoney and Bharat Ramamurti write.
Opinion | Economists Hate This Idea. It Could Be a Way Out of the Affordability Crisis.
Voters are demanding short-term price relief, and temporary price controls may be the only viable way to provide it
nyti.ms
November 17, 2025 at 1:27 AM
T1/ his article deserves the Scottish verdict for op eds. It does not make the case for the policies it advocates.
The first problem is that the authors do not make clear arguments about the justification for price in housing and energy markets. Invocation of public support is not a justification.
The first problem is that the authors do not make clear arguments about the justification for price in housing and energy markets. Invocation of public support is not a justification.
1/ I highly recommend The First Russian Revolution by Susanna Rabow-Edling. She provides an extremely readable narrative history of the Decembrist Revolt. A path not taken? Too speculative. But certainly the book succeeds in demonstrating longstanding important liberal currents in Russian thought.
November 17, 2025 at 12:29 AM
1/ I highly recommend The First Russian Revolution by Susanna Rabow-Edling. She provides an extremely readable narrative history of the Decembrist Revolt. A path not taken? Too speculative. But certainly the book succeeds in demonstrating longstanding important liberal currents in Russian thought.
Latest installment in an extraordinarily interesting research program on inequality in Imperial China, one replete with insights on meritocracy, elite reproduction, and other topics with great current salience.
Adaptive persistence of elite families despite regime change, alongside lasting regional scarring, highlighting the role of cultural transmission for social mobility, from Carol H. Shiue and Wolfgang Keller www.nber.org/papers/w34451
November 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Latest installment in an extraordinarily interesting research program on inequality in Imperial China, one replete with insights on meritocracy, elite reproduction, and other topics with great current salience.
Important evidence on the first order importance of Asian immigration to the US economy, and by implication, the madness of efforts to truncate this extraordinarily productive flow of talent. Must read.
Over the past 3 decades, high-skill migrants from Asia—especially India and China—have transformed the US economy, fueling innovation, tech, higher ed, and healthcare growth, from Gaurav Khanna www.nber.org/papers/w34449
November 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Important evidence on the first order importance of Asian immigration to the US economy, and by implication, the madness of efforts to truncate this extraordinarily productive flow of talent. Must read.
Delighted to post this great conversation with Nicole Fortin, Codirector of the new Stone Centre on Wealth and Income Inequality at the Vancouver School of Economics, which covered the many fascinating dimensions of her work on econometrics, labor economics, and gender inequality.
Decades of research on gender disparities, one fascinating conversation. Nicole Fortin (@stone-centre-ubc.bsky.social) joins @durlauf.bsky.social to discuss decomposition methods, women’s underrepresentation in economics, & shifting views on minimum wage.
Listen now → bit.ly/49MQU48
Listen now → bit.ly/49MQU48
November 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Delighted to post this great conversation with Nicole Fortin, Codirector of the new Stone Centre on Wealth and Income Inequality at the Vancouver School of Economics, which covered the many fascinating dimensions of her work on econometrics, labor economics, and gender inequality.
1/ Very pleased to release this paper with extraordinary coauthors David McMillon and Scott Page, which outlines ideas on how complex systems methods can enrich the study of inequality. A key idea is that persistent inequalities may be an emergent property for a range of socioeconomic environments.
Arguing that complexity methods can augment the study of inequality, with particular value in understanding the meaning of systemic determinants of disparities, from @durlauf.bsky.social, David McMillon, and Scott Page www.nber.org/papers/w34381
November 15, 2025 at 4:50 PM
1/ Very pleased to release this paper with extraordinary coauthors David McMillon and Scott Page, which outlines ideas on how complex systems methods can enrich the study of inequality. A key idea is that persistent inequalities may be an emergent property for a range of socioeconomic environments.
1/ Egalitarianism should begin at home. I link to this article by @bencasselman.bsky.social in light of the communications between Larry Summers and Jeffrey Epstein that have just been released. The released emails and the fact of friendship are vile.
www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/b...
www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/b...
For Women in Economics, the Hostility Is Out in the Open (Published 2021)
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
1/ Egalitarianism should begin at home. I link to this article by @bencasselman.bsky.social in light of the communications between Larry Summers and Jeffrey Epstein that have just been released. The released emails and the fact of friendship are vile.
www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/b...
www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/b...
Very valuable thread.
The incredible shrinking attack on U.S. universities continues.
Cornell has signed an agreement—but unlike the UVA agreement, instead of pledging to follow the gov't's highly questionable July "guidance" on discrimination, Cornell simply agrees to hand it out to faculty as a "training resource"!
Cornell has signed an agreement—but unlike the UVA agreement, instead of pledging to follow the gov't's highly questionable July "guidance" on discrimination, Cornell simply agrees to hand it out to faculty as a "training resource"!
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Very valuable thread.
Reposted by Steven Durlauf
Inequality Reconsidered: A Week with the Stone Center begins today! Missed the registration window for our Nov. 4 lecture with Sam Bowles? Don’t worry, you can still join “Why Economic Inequalities Endure” on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Seats are limited, don't wait → cvent.me/aWXMPq
Seats are limited, don't wait → cvent.me/aWXMPq
November 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Inequality Reconsidered: A Week with the Stone Center begins today! Missed the registration window for our Nov. 4 lecture with Sam Bowles? Don’t worry, you can still join “Why Economic Inequalities Endure” on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Seats are limited, don't wait → cvent.me/aWXMPq
Seats are limited, don't wait → cvent.me/aWXMPq
There is no greater joy in my academic career than my lifelong collaboration and friendship with Andros Kourtellos
and Chih Ming Tan. They are "deep roots" for my trajectory as a social scientist.
and Chih Ming Tan. They are "deep roots" for my trajectory as a social scientist.
Research trio @durlauf.bsky.social, Andros Kourtellos, and Chih Ming Tan reunited at the Stone Center this past summer to continue their collaborative efforts on refining measures of inequality. Learn more about their joint work and its reach→ stonecenter.uchicago.edu/news-insight...
Long-time Collaborators Reunite at the Stone Center - Stone Center
Where Ideas on Economic Growth and Intergenerational Mobility Converge Andros Kourtellos and Chih Ming Tan have been researching inequality for nearly two decades. Initially drawn to cross-country dif...
stonecenter.uchicago.edu
October 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
There is no greater joy in my academic career than my lifelong collaboration and friendship with Andros Kourtellos
and Chih Ming Tan. They are "deep roots" for my trajectory as a social scientist.
and Chih Ming Tan. They are "deep roots" for my trajectory as a social scientist.
Reposted by Steven Durlauf
In case you missed it ⬇️
I sat down with University of Chicago Professor Steven Durlauf, director of the school's Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility, for a comprehensive look at U.S. wealth inequality.
Watch the interview here: youtu.be/8f-ECvXYfWw?...
I sat down with University of Chicago Professor Steven Durlauf, director of the school's Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility, for a comprehensive look at U.S. wealth inequality.
Watch the interview here: youtu.be/8f-ECvXYfWw?...
October 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM
In case you missed it ⬇️
I sat down with University of Chicago Professor Steven Durlauf, director of the school's Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility, for a comprehensive look at U.S. wealth inequality.
Watch the interview here: youtu.be/8f-ECvXYfWw?...
I sat down with University of Chicago Professor Steven Durlauf, director of the school's Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility, for a comprehensive look at U.S. wealth inequality.
Watch the interview here: youtu.be/8f-ECvXYfWw?...
@corinnelow.com
is an exceptionally creative, broadminded, and humane scholar. This is a lovely description of her book.
is an exceptionally creative, broadminded, and humane scholar. This is a lovely description of her book.
Hi! Since others are talking about my book, thought I'd share a little about it. The book is a love letter to women everywhere wondering why their time just isn't adding up. It turns out, it's not you! We are getting massively squeezed by structural changes! 🧵
www.amazon.com/Having-All-T...
www.amazon.com/Having-All-T...
October 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM
@corinnelow.com
is an exceptionally creative, broadminded, and humane scholar. This is a lovely description of her book.
is an exceptionally creative, broadminded, and humane scholar. This is a lovely description of her book.
Truly consequential social science.
The violent history of segregation and desegregation is a reminder of why safe routes mattered —not just for children— but for adults, too. Contribute your story to this important story. Your story of segregation is history, too.
greenbookproject.osu.edu
#GreenBookProject
#EconSky
#CommunityMap
greenbookproject.osu.edu
#GreenBookProject
#EconSky
#CommunityMap
October 27, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Truly consequential social science.
I invite you to listen to this conversation with my wonderful colleague @nomadj1s.bsky.social,
Associate Director of @ucstonecenter.bsky.social, in which we explore the many interesting facts of his research ranging from racial inequality to consumer behavior.
Associate Director of @ucstonecenter.bsky.social, in which we explore the many interesting facts of his research ranging from racial inequality to consumer behavior.
It’s not every day we interview one of our own directors on the Podcast, but when we do, it’s worth a listen. @durlauf.bsky.social talks with @nomadj1s.bsky.social about household finance, UBI, editing a special issue of the JEL, and what an individualistic perspective might omit.
🎧→ bit.ly/4qlcFOt
🎧→ bit.ly/4qlcFOt
October 22, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I invite you to listen to this conversation with my wonderful colleague @nomadj1s.bsky.social,
Associate Director of @ucstonecenter.bsky.social, in which we explore the many interesting facts of his research ranging from racial inequality to consumer behavior.
Associate Director of @ucstonecenter.bsky.social, in which we explore the many interesting facts of his research ranging from racial inequality to consumer behavior.
The wonderful 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics brought to mind this Soviet poster which embodies a different set of ideas: "Let Us Speed Up the Pace of Technological Progress!"
October 19, 2025 at 5:05 AM
The wonderful 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics brought to mind this Soviet poster which embodies a different set of ideas: "Let Us Speed Up the Pace of Technological Progress!"
Reposted by Steven Durlauf
Measuring inequality of opportunity must account for the context in which choices are made. Using linear Bayesian model averaging & machine-learning methods, researchers show how estimates of opportunity inequality vary across model specifications and EU countries.
Read the paper → zurl.co/WD1ej
Read the paper → zurl.co/WD1ej
October 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Measuring inequality of opportunity must account for the context in which choices are made. Using linear Bayesian model averaging & machine-learning methods, researchers show how estimates of opportunity inequality vary across model specifications and EU countries.
Read the paper → zurl.co/WD1ej
Read the paper → zurl.co/WD1ej
Reposted by Steven Durlauf
Registration for the Autumn 2025 Inequality Workshop is now open → forms.gle/bbnp8ZgfBxE7...
We'll see you there!
We'll see you there!
October 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Registration for the Autumn 2025 Inequality Workshop is now open → forms.gle/bbnp8ZgfBxE7...
We'll see you there!
We'll see you there!