UChicago Stone Center | Why Economic Inequalities Endure

0:00 Welcome Remarks by Geoffrey Wodtke 03:34 Introduction by Ethan Bueno de Mesquita 06:20 Remarks by Samuel Bowles 36:30 Remarks by Steven Durlauf 49:06 Panel Discussion 01:18:45 Q&A Building on insights from "The Origin and Future of Economic Inequality," "Why Economic Inequalities Endure" is a discussion featuring two of the most renowned scholars on the study of inequality: Samuel Bowles and Steven Durlauf. Their conversation is moderated by Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, Dean and Sydney Stein Professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Together, they examine how socioeconomic inequality persists across generations, with a special focus on the mechanisms that embed it within institutions. This timely and consequential conversation not only unearths why inequalities endure but also surfaces strategies to promote greater economic mobility. The group’s collective expertise spans economics, political science, and behavioral studies, ensuring a multifaceted discussion. Samuel Bowles is Research Professor and Director of the Behavioral Sciences Program at the Santa Fe Institute, and an Advisor to the Stone Center at University College London. Steven Durlauf serves as the Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor and Director of the Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.