The Political Philosophy of Wealth Inequality
The Political Philosophy of Wealth Inequality
In what ways does wealth inequality matter? How is inequality related to political power? What is the impact of wealth inequality on modern social systems?
A panel discussion at the Stone Center symposium on January 27, 2026 explored the political philosophy of wealth inequality.
Panelists:
Elizabeth Anderson, John Dewey University Professor of Philosophy, University of Michigan
Oren Cass, Chief Economist, American Compass
Hélène Landemore, Damon Wells '58 Professor of Political Science, Yale University
Chair:
Katrina Forrester, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences, Government and Social Studies, Harvard University
Wealth Inequality in the US
What are the structural differences between income and wealth inequality? How has history shaped the racial wealth gap in the US, and why does it matter today? Why is the intergenerational reproduction of wealth so critical for understanding inequality?
A panel discussion at the Stone Center symposium on January 27, 2026 explored the historical context and implications of wealth inequality in the US.
Panelists:
Ellora Derenoncourt, Assistant Professor of Economics, Princeton University
Alexandra Killewald, Director, Stone Center for Inequality Dynamics and Professor of Sociology, University of Michigan
Wojciech Kopczuk, Professor of Economics and International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
Chair:
Gary Gensler, Professor of the Practice, Global Economics and Management, and Professor of the Practice, Finance, MIT Sloan School of Management
Opening Remarks from Richard Locke
Richard Locke, John C Head III Dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management, delivered opening remarks at the Stone Center symposium, "Why Wealth Inequality Matters," on January 27, 2026.
Authoritarianism and Wealth Inequality
What role does inequality play in authoritarian regimes today? How is inequality related to democratic backsliding?
A panel discussion at the Stone Center symposium on January 27, 2026 analyzed the complex connections between wealth inequality and authoritarianism around the world, including in China, the US, and Europe.
Panelists:
Daron Acemoglu, Institute Professor, MIT
Sheri Berman, Professor of Political Science and Chair, Barnard College, Columbia University
David Yang, Yvonne P.L. Lui Professor of Economics, Harvard University
Chair:
Ya-Wen Lei, Professor of Sociology, Harvard University
Why Wealth Inequality Matters: A Symposium
On January 27, 2026, the Stone Center hosted a series of interdisciplinary discussions on wealth inequality – its origins and political philosophy, its national and global contexts, and its connections to authoritarianism – to inform research and policy.
See agenda and speaker bios: https://shapingwork.mit.edu/events/why-wealth-inequality-matters-a-symposium/
Why Wealth Inequality Matters: A Symposium
Join us for a series of interdisciplinary discussions on wealth inequality – its origins and political philosophy, its national and global contexts, and its connections to authoritarianism – to inform research and policy.
See the agenda and speaker bios: https://shapingwork.mit.edu/events/why-wealth-inequality-matters-a-symposium/
This event is organized by the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work at MIT.
Susan Stokes on The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies
On November 20, 2025, the Stone Center and MIT Sloan's Leadership Now chapter hosted Susan Stokes for a discussion of her new book, "The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies."
Susan Stokes is Blake Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and Chair of the Chicago Center on Democracy.
Closing Remarks from Daron Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu delivered closing remarks at the launch of the Stone Center on November 3, 2025.
Daron Acemoglu is an Institute Professor at MIT and director of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work.
Pro-Worker AI: What Is It, and How Do We Do It?
What is "pro-worker AI," and how could we actually achieve it? A panel discussion at the launch of the Stone Center on November 3, 2025 explored these questions.
Panelists:
Zana Buçinca, Postdoctoral Researcher, Microsoft; incoming Assistant Professor, MIT
Ethan Mollick, Professor and Director, Generative AI Labs, The Wharton School; Author, Co-Intelligence
Daron Acemoglu, Institute Professor, MIT; Director, James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work
Chair: David Autor, Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor, MIT Department of Economics; Co-Director, James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work
Reinventing Liberalism in a Populist Era
Can liberalism co-exist with populism? What can history teach us about the roots of liberalism and democratic populism? A panel discussion at the launch of the Stone Center on November 3, 2025 explored these questions.
Panelists:
Josh Cohen, Faculty, Apple University; Distinguished Senior Fellow, UC Berkeley; Co-Editor, Boston Review
Marc J. Dunkelman, Fellow, Brown Watson School; Senior Fellow, Searchlight Institute
Helena Rosenblatt Dhar, Distinguished Professor of History, CUNY Graduate Center
Chair: Daron Acemoglu, Institute Professor, MIT; Director, James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work
Wealth Inequality: Causes and Consequences
Who is rich in America, and how did they become rich? What is the role of housing markets in wealth generation? How is rising inequality connected to financial markets and the macroeconomy?
A panel discussion at the launch of the Stone Center on November 3, 2025 explored the causes and consequences of wealth inequality in the United States.
Panelists:
Atif Mian, John H. Laporte Jr. Class of 1967 Professor of Economics, Public Policy, and Finance, Princeton University
Antoinette Schoar, Stewart C. Myers-Horn Family Professor of Finance, MIT Sloan School of Management
Owen Zidar, Professor of Economics, Princeton University
Chair: Simon Johnson, Ronald A. Kurtz (1954) Professor of Entrepreneurship, MIT Sloan School of Management; Co-Director, James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work
Keynote and Q&A with Congressman Jake Auchincloss
At the launch of the Stone Center on November 3, 2025, Congressman Jake Auchincloss discussed AI, jobs, technology policy, and political polarization, in conversation with David Autor.
Congressman Jake Auchincloss is serving his third term representing the Massachusetts Fourth. In addition to his work on the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, his areas of focus include healthcare, clean energy, gun violence, and building a strong middle class.
David Autor is the Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor in the MIT Department of Economics and co-director of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work.
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