Support our non-partisan non-profit newsroom 💜 Donate now

The nicer the car, the more likely the driver is to break the law

There's a whole body of research that draws a correlation between wealth and self-interested behavior. We take a closer look.
"At this point, we've got dozens of different studies looking at different facets of behavior that tell us that the more wealth you have, the less attentive to other people you become," says Paul Piff, a professor of psychological science at the University of California, Irvine.
olaser/Getty Images

With rising elder care costs, the Great Wealth Transfer won't be so great

Older generations are spending down their nest eggs and leaving smaller inheritances to adult children, writer Annie Logue explains.
Many Americans, especially baby boomers, will have to spend much of their savings on health care as they age.
Getty Images

Why "eat the rich" storylines are taking over TV and movies

Feb 15, 2023
Society's evolving views of the wealthy have brought dark humor to pop culture.
Jennifer Coolidge, seen here at "The White Lotus" season 2 premiere, became a fan favorite for her performance in the "eat-the-rich" series.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Want to start a business? It helps to have rich parents

Jan 18, 2023
How heavily are the odds stacked against startups without the “massive leg up” of family wealth?
EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER/Getty Images Plus

How the world's richest people became much richer during the pandemic

Jan 16, 2023
Two-thirds of the $42 trillion in new wealth went to the wealthiest 1%, says a new report from Oxfam. The group also says tax policy can change that.
Many of the big companies that made the most money early in the pandemic, like Amazon and Walmart, spent more on shareholders than raising workers' pay, says Molly Kinder of Brookings. Above, the interior of a Walmart.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

"Patriotic Millionaires" in the U.K. call for higher taxes … on themselves

Apr 5, 2022
The group of wealthy individuals say they would be happy to pay a lot more in taxes to ease the burden on the poor and the middle classes.
As the United Kingdom grapples with high inflation, a group of millionaires is volunteering to take a bump in taxes.
clubfoto/Getty Images

The sociology of sanctioning Russian oligarchs

Mar 11, 2022
Sanctions represent an existential threat for Russia's elite, says sociologist Brooke Harrington.
The Eclipse, one of the yachts of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovitch, pictured in 2013, is reportedly worth $570 million.
Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Research suggests we're misperceiving the inequality around us

Mar 25, 2021
How the perception of one’s income ranking affects views of fairness and much more.
Recent research suggests people's perceptions of their own economic status, as well as the status of people in their social or work circles, aren't as accurate as they might think.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Majority of Americans believe economy is rigged

Oct 16, 2020
More than 80% of Black Americans and nearly 70% of women say the economy is rigged in favor of certain groups. Experts say they're right.
Protesters in Los Angeles in May 2020.
Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

Why are so few Black women married in America?

Oct 6, 2020
In this book excerpt, Dianne Stewart writes about the costs facing Black women with incarcerated partners.
Dianne Stewart, the author of “Black Women, Black Love: America’s War on African-American Marriage."
Courtesy of Hachette Book Group, Inc