Cornell University’s Center for the Study of Inequality (CSI) is devoted to understanding patterns, causes, and consequences of social and economic inequality. CSI fosters new and cutting-edge research, trains undergraduate and graduate students, encourages the exchange of ideas among inequality researchers, and disseminates research findings to a broader public.
Professor Melissa Wilde speaking at Inequality Center event
Simon Wheeler
CSI Events
Visiting and Colloquium Speakers
The Center for the Study of Inequality regularly sponsors and co-sponsors lectures and conferences that feature world-renowned scholars and that draw attention to the most pressing problems and controversies in the field. Unless otherwise noted, events are free and open to the public. Please feel free to contact us to inquire about support for your event. Current and forthcoming events can be viewed here.
Inequality Discussion Group
This biweekly discussion group brings together Cornell faculty and graduate students from around campus to discuss and improve their in-progress research.
Cornell University Humanities Scholars traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for increased National Endowment for the Humanities and National Archives funding, meeting with congressional offices to highlight the impact of humanities programs on education. Their two‑day trip underscored how federal support strengthens community partnerships, language programs, and public humanities initiatives benefiting campuses and local organizations nationwide.
The loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits November 1 if the government shutdown holds benefits will have profound repercussions for democracy, says government scholar Jamila Michener.
Cornell researchers found that by prioritizing the perspectives of white Americans instead of those from underrepresented groups, studies of pandemic disparities likely missed important insights from those most affected by COVID-19.
Haowen Zheng, a doctoral candidate in sociology from Zibo, China, now studies why people move long distances within a country and how those moves shape their lives.
Annelise Orleck, Dartmouth College, will deliver the 2025 Alice Cook-Lois Gray Distinguished Lecture on April 15: “Poverty Wages, 'We're Not Lovin' It': Gender, Race and Inequality Rising in the 21st Century.”
Our online quiz tests your knowledge of current data on wealth, income, and racial inequities in the U.S. When you’re done with the 12 questions, you'll see a histogram that shows how you fared relative to other quiz-takers.
