Economic Inequality

This week Dean speaks to Kim Weeden, Professor of Sociology at Cornell University and Director of the Center for the Study of Inequality, about why America’s wage gap keeps growing. 

A stark comparison between the lavish wealth accumulation of the Trump family and the modest SNAP benefits relied on by millions of Americans reveals deep economic inequality.

To build a fairer economy, progressives must stop treating the market as the enemy and instead reform the rules that allow the wealthy to manipulate it.

The One Big Beautiful Bill slashes student loan programs that benefit working class students — while boosting Pell grants for sketchy ‘short term’ programs.

Instead of blaming Baby Boomers, young people should focus on the wealthy elite whose policies have contributed to economic inequality, rising healthcare costs, and expensive housing.

The AI bubble, like counterfeit money, boosts demand and stock prices—but also drives inflation, inequality, and environmental harm. A crash may be necessary.

Rather than relying on an unworkable wealth tax, we should reform markets and patent laws to stop billionaires from amassing vast fortunes in the first place.

CEOs aren’t driven by shareholder value but by self-interest, with weak labor power and media checks allowing Trump’s authoritarianism to go unchallenged.

Trump’s approach to economic policy turns government into a pay-to-play scheme, using tariffs, visas, and regulations to funnel money and power back to himself.

New Census data show troubling racial and gender gaps in income — long before the Trump spending bill takes effect.