Economic inequality is the unequal distribution of income and wealth and it has been rising in the United States in recent decades. Questions about whether and how this rise in inequality affects economic growth and stability are fundamental to Equitable Growth’s work, which explores how economic inequality impacts individuals and families across a wide range of issues, and what policies might address these challenges.
Featured work
U.S. income and wealth inequality are no longer increasing, but a return to the equitable levels of the mid-20th century isn’t likely anytime soon
January 17, 2023
January 17, 2023
A review of federal lending to small business owners of color during the COVID-19 pandemic
December 13, 2022
December 13, 2022
Why the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is good economics
June 30, 2022
June 30, 2022
Six charts that explain how inequality in the United States changed over the past 20 years
February 1, 2022
February 1, 2022
The logistics of a reparations program in the United States
February 18, 2020
February 18, 2020
Explore Content in Economic Inequality748
Economic policy guides to reduce inequality for the 2020 U.S. election-year presidential and congressional transition
October 30, 2020
October 30, 2020
Scholars and advocates say racial disparities and worker power are key to the coronavirus recession and to long-term U.S. economic recovery
October 30, 2020
October 30, 2020
Why minimum wages are a critical tool for achieving racial justice in the U.S. labor market
October 29, 2020
October 29, 2020
Lisa Cook, Hilary Hoynes, and Atif Mian join Equitable Growth Steering Committee
October 28, 2020
October 28, 2020
Equitable Growth’s labor market experts deliver comment letter to U.S. Department of Labor on status of independent contractors
October 27, 2020
October 27, 2020
Equitable Growth’s Amanda Fischer joins others in comment letter to antitrust regulator on harmful U.S. banking consolidation
October 27, 2020
October 27, 2020
Public investments in education can spur equitable growth, pay for themselves, and create jobs for a stronger economic recovery
October 27, 2020
October 27, 2020
Equitable Growth’s Household Pulse graphs: September 30–October 12
October 21, 2020
October 21, 2020
The rising number of U.S. households with burdensome student debt calls for a federal response
October 21, 2020
October 21, 2020
Voting rights equal economic progress: The Voting Rights Act and U.S. economic inequality
October 16, 2020
October 16, 2020
The Effect of Political Power on Labor Market Inequality: Evidence from the 1965 Voting Rights Act
October 16, 2020
October 16, 2020
Explore the Equitable Growth network of experts around the country and get answers to today's most pressing questions!