@article{PfefferSchoeni2016,
title = {How Wealth Inequality Shapes Our Future},
author = {Pfeffer, Fabian T. and Schoeni, Robert F.},
year = {2016},
journal = {RSF: Russell Sage Foundation Journal of Social Sciences},
volume = {2},
number = {6},
pages = {2--22},
doi = {10.7758/RSF.2016.2.6.01},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7758/RSF.2016.2.6.01},
abstract = {The experiences of Lakesha, Liz, Mike, Mary, and Howard---and the papers in this volume--- illustrate that wealth and wealth inequality are intertwined with almost all aspects of social and economic life: child development, educa- tion and human capital, success in the labor market, marriage and divorce, health, con- sumption, retirement decisions and policies, macroeconomic conditions, and historical events. One goal of this volume is to address many of these dimensions together in one pub- lication to underscore the broad set of causes and consequences of wealth inequality. To that end, the authors bring perspectives from a range of academic disciplines, including eco- nomics, sociology, political science, history, demography, and health sciences. The ten manuscripts were identified through an open competition sponsored by the Russell Sage Foundation. Proposals were reviewed and each manuscript went through the normal peer review process. Although all of the ten articles are described here, the goal of this in- troduction is not to simply summarize the findings of those manuscripts. Instead, it is intended as a broad and hopefully accessible overview of relevant research and provides as well some original analyses to describe why wealth inequality is a central factor influencing the nation's economic, social, and political outcomes and processes and why it therefore deserves the increased attention of scholars, policymakers, and the public.},
keywords = {Impacts of Wealth Inequality}
}
The experiences of Lakesha, Liz, Mike, Mary, and Howard—and the papers in this volume— illustrate that wealth and wealth inequality are intertwined with almost all aspects of social and economic life: child development, educa- tion and human capital, success in the labor market, marriage and divorce, health, con- sumption, retirement decisions and policies, macroeconomic conditions, and historical events. One goal of this volume is to address many of these dimensions together in one pub- lication to underscore the broad set of causes and consequences of wealth inequality. To that end, the authors bring perspectives from a range of academic disciplines, including eco- nomics, sociology, political science, history, demography, and health sciences. The ten manuscripts were identified through an open competition sponsored by the Russell Sage Foundation. Proposals were reviewed and each manuscript went through the normal peer review process. Although all of the ten articles are described here, the goal of this in- troduction is not to simply summarize the findings of those manuscripts. Instead, it is intended as a broad and hopefully accessible overview of relevant research and provides as well some original analyses to describe why wealth inequality is a central factor influencing the nation's economic, social, and political outcomes and processes and why it therefore deserves the increased attention of scholars, policymakers, and the public.
