Course description

In this course, we will explore the concept of economic inequality and where it comes from. Our goal is to understand why inequality persists and how it shapes people’s life chances. We will review the most common explanations, starting with family background—like parents’ education, jobs, and stress levels—and how these shape child development and outcomes. We will also look at individual factors such as education and employment, and how they influence opportunities later in life. Finally, we will examine how state policies—like taxes, welfare programs, and insurance systems—can reduce or widen inequality. Along the way, we will practice thinking critically about recent research and debates, especially around the recent rise of economic inequality in high-income countries.

Content

The course will answer the following questions:

• What is inequality and how does it relate to social stratification, poverty, and intergenerational social mobility?
• What are the consequences of inequality?
• How do we measure economic inequality?
• What are the main sources of inequality in affluent societies?
• What is behind recent increases in inequality?

Target audience

This course is recommended for undergraduate and graduate students who study family demography, economics, or sociology and wish to understand how inequality is related to demographic and economic trends, as well as for students who want to pursue a career in (quantitative) research in social stratification or related fields.

Required training or equipment

The course will emphasize quantitative research, so students should already be comfortable with basic quantitative methods and able to read and interpret research papers.

Students will need to bring their own laptop to work through the suggested exercises.