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Poverty, Race, and Inequality

The issues of inequality, poverty, and racism are consistent threads woven throughout IPR faculty research—and have constituted major research themes from the day the Institute first opened its doors. To examine these pernicious problems, faculty researchers cast a wide net, tackling a variety of topics that shed light on gaps in race, socioeconomic status, opportunity, and housing.

A Message From James Rosenbaum, Program Chair

James Rosenbaum

In the program on Race, Poverty, and Inequality, IPR researchers look at various causes of poverty, racism, and inequality and their consequences in the United States, as well as in developing countries around the world. Topics cut across race, education, social status, and more. The researchers’ examinations often overlap with other IPR programs, such as Urban Policy, Social Disparities and Health, and Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies.

Working Papers

Recently published articles and working papers in this program area include:

Brittany Torrez, Cydney Dupree, and Michael Kraus. 2024. Objectivity Interrogation of Racial Scholarship in Psychology and Management (WP-24-09).

Felipe Gonçalves, Elisa Jácome, and Emily Weisburst. 2024. Immigration Enforcement and Public Safety (WP-24-06).

Brittany Torrez, LaStarr Hollie, Jennifer Richeson, and Michael Kraus. 2024. The Misperception of Organizational Racial Progress Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (WP-24-03).

All Papers

Faculty Experts

Faculty come from the fields of economics, sociology, communication, African American studies, education and social policy, and others.

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Events

May
06
2024
Mules: The Punishment and Political Labor of Black Women

Sally Nuamah, Associate Professor of Human Development and Social Policy and IPR Fellow

Apr
01
2024
How Can You Advance Your Research with Data Science and AI Support?

By Christina Maimone, Northwestern Research Computing and Data Services

How can you advance your research with data science and AI support? Northwestern IT Research Computing and Data Services provides a range of resources, services, and specialized staff who will work with you to address challenges throughout the research process--from project planning and data collection, to analysis and visualization, to data sharing and archiving.  Areas of support include expertise in data science, statistics, visualization, AI, data management, data workflows, and data analysis, as well as high-performance and high-memory computing resources, data storage, research software, and secure data environments.  This session will discuss recent expansions in support services and staff, and opportunities for research collaborations.

Mar
27
2024
IPR Spring 2024 Distinguished Lecture: Governing the Future: On AI, Public Policy, and Democracy

Alondra NelsonHarold F. Linder Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, and Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Policy Study: Comparative Perspectives on Racial Discrimination in Hiring: The Rise of Field Experiments

In the Annual Review of Sociology, IPR sociologist Lincoln Quillian and Arnfinn Midtbøen of the University of Oslo examine more than 140 field experimental studies of discrimination in the hiring of various racial and ethnic groups across 30 countries. Among their key findings, they discover that over the last 25 years, discrimination rates in the United States and the United Kingdom have not changed and that discrimination in hiring against racial and ethnic minorities is a worldwide phenomenon. 

View published study