Rephonic
Artwork for The Inequality Podcast
Inequality
Wealth Inequality
Gender Inequality
Public Policy
Social Mobility
Meritocracy
Socioeconomic Status
Intergenerational Mobility
Income Inequality
Neighborhood Effects
Mass Incarceration
Economic Inequality
Adam Smith
Economic Theory
Higher Education
Affirmative Action
Child Development
Incarceration Rates
Racial Disparity
Racial Inequality

Presented by the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, The Inequality Podcast brings together scholars across disciplines to discuss the causes and consequences of inequality and strategies to promote economic mobility. This podcast is hosted by sociologist Geoff Wodtke and economists Stev... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes57Founded3 years ago
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EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Inequality Podcast

Latest Episodes

Beginning in the 1980s, a new political order led policymakers to prize economic efficiency, often at the expense of public goods. What has followed, our guest argues, has been a withdrawal of ethics from policy making, as well as an “erosion of kind... more

From Adam Smith’s pin factory to Henry Ford’s assembly line, specialization has long connoted a modern, efficient economy. Within this paradigm, workers’ jobs become repetitive but, ultimately, entail a narrow scope of tasks. So why, in today’s ultra... more

It is no secret that the power of American unions has waned since the middle of the 20th century. Their downturn has had far-reaching consequences: As the threat of organized labor recedes, employers may feel less pressure to offer concessions. Our g... more

Inequality is often framed in terms of a binary: rich and poor, haves and have nots. But inequality between groups — based on gender, class, race, and so on — must be understood alongside inequalities within particular groups, at particular intersect... more

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Recent Guests

Philip Kitcher
Philosopher, John Dewey Professor Emeritus at Columbia University
Columbia University
Episode: Philip Kitcher on the Erosion of Ethics in Policymaking
Michelle Jackson
Associate Professor of Sociology
Stanford University
Episode: Michelle Jackson on the Overworked Labor Force
Tom VanHeuvelen
Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
Episode: Tom VanHeuvelen on the Future of Organized Labor
Leslie McCall
Presidential Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the Graduate Center, CUNY
Graduate Center, City University of New York
Episode: Leslie McCall on Intersectional Inequality, AI, and Meritocracy
Joe Soss
Cowles Chair Professor for the Study of Public Service
University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs; Department of Political Science; Department of Sociology
Episode: Joe Soss on Welfare Reform and ‘Legal Plunder’
Mario Small
Quedley Professor of Social Science, Columbia University, sociologist
Columbia University
Episode: Mario Small on Networks and Urban Poverty
Kim Bowes
BFC Presidential Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania; classicist, archaeologist, and ancient historian
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Kim Bowes on Ancient Romans’ Economic Lives
Joseph Stiglitz
Economist and public policy scholar
Episode: Joseph Stiglitz on Pioneering the Economics of Inequality
René Flores
Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: René Flores on Immigration Enforcement and ‘Social Illegality’

Hosts

Steven Durlauf
Host with University of Chicago affiliations; central figure in wealth inequality and mobility research.
Geoff Wodtke
Sociologist and co-host; focuses on mobility, inequality, and educational contexts.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 40 ratings
  • One of the best economics podcasts.

    Wonderful podcast with a lot of valuable and interesting information.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3.Elena
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Deep scholarly discussions on inequality and mobility.
Polished, data-driven conversations that connect history to policy.
Strong guest diversity with rigorous analysis.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Michelle Jackson on the Overworked Labor Force
Q: What is the most radical suggestion in Manifesto for a Dream, and how might it reshape policy to address inequality?
Constructed families and broader social networks above the traditional family could alter mobility dynamics by widening social ties, reducing background-based constraints, and creating incentives for parents to invest in broad-based education and health supports.
Michelle Jackson on the Overworked Labor Force
Q: So I thought we might turn to the implications of these ideas for labor market inequality, particularly wage disparities over the last half-century.
A key interpretation is that many inputs to work have increased without proportional rewards, suggesting that wage inequality may be driven by unrewarded effort and expanding task burdens, with unions sometimes enforcing higher-skill, higher-pay trajectories.
Michelle Jackson on the Overworked Labor Force
Q: It's a very broad question, but I'm just keen to know your thinking.
The discussion centers on two different angles: what is required to do jobs well under rationalization, and how tasks within jobs might promote equality and meritocratic outcomes in the future.
Tom VanHeuvelen on the Future of Organized Labor
Q: What are the main mechanisms connecting union decline to greater inequality?
Unions provide collective power that helps workers secure higher wages and protect against being fired when raising concerns; they also influence non-union workers through spillovers in industries and communities, and they cultivate a culture around fairness that stabilizes wages.
Joe Soss on Welfare Reform and ‘Legal Plunder’
Q: Could you walk us through maybe like kind of one particular example of a welfare policy or reform that was designed to discipline the labor supply?
There are examples across programs; in Florida's TANF-like WT program, new requirements included mandatory two-week classes, shifting language to 'candidates for jobs,' and implementing work requirements that often became make-work, with performance pressures tied to outcomes that privatization and new bureaucratic regimes could exploit.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Inequality Podcast

What is The Inequality Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous, scholar-led series that centers wealth inequality, mobility, and the historical and policy contexts shaping economic outcomes. Across episodes, guests range from economists and historians to sociologists and policy researchers, exploring topics like inequality, education, immigration, gender gaps, and the politics of opportunity. The format emphasizes data, historical context, and interdisciplinary perspectives, often linking academic findings to real-world implications for mobility and public policy. Notable strengths include a diverse roster of eminent academics, strong emphasis on methodological nuance, and a willingness to challenge conventional economics with historical and legal viewpoints. This makes it particularly compe... more

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1. Capitalisn't
2. Behind the News with Doug Henwood
3. EconTalk
4. Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer
5. Ones and Tooze

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The Inequality Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 57 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Inequality Podcast?

Recent guests on The Inequality Podcast include:

1. Philip Kitcher
2. Michelle Jackson
3. Tom VanHeuvelen
4. Leslie McCall
5. Joe Soss
6. Mario Small
7. Kim Bowes
8. Joseph Stiglitz

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