# Inequality ## expand\_more The cluster on inequality brings together work in a variety of fields -- on health, education, incomes, housing, families, organizations and meaning making in the United States and beyond. Joined by an interest in the stratifying effects of institutions, culture, political power and history, the Harvard research program exerts a large influence on the sociological analysis of social and economic inequality. In many cases Harvard faculty have set the terms of debates on race and class inequality, and trends in poverty and inequality in the United States over the last half century. Through its connections to the [Inequality and Social Policy program](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/educational-programs/doctoral-programs/phd-social-policy), and the Kennedy School, faculty have also been vitally involved in expanding opportunity and improving welfare for the most disadvantaged in American society. [Affiliated Graduate Students](/people/graduate-student-research-clusters/inequality) ## Associated Faculty [### Laura Kremen Adler ](/people/laura-adler-1) [### Clem Aeppli ](/people/clem-aeppli-0) [### Clem Aeppli ](/people/clem-aeppli) [### Francisca Afantchao Biakou ](/people/francisca-afantchao-biakou) [### David Laurence Ager ](/people/david-laurence-ager) [### Joa Alexander ](/people/joa-alexander) [### John Almandoz ](/people/john-almandoz) [### Tally Amir ](/people/tally-amir-0) [### Weihua An ](/people/weihua) [### Aja Antoine-Jones ](/people/aja-antoine-jones) [### David Arbeláez ](/people/david-arbelaez) [### Asad L. Asad ](/people/asad-l-asad-0) [### Victoria Asbury-Kimmel ](/people/victoria-asbury-kimmel) [### Victoria S. Asbury-Kimmel ](/people/victoria-asbury-0) [### Hero Ashman ](/people/hero-ashman-0) [### Elena Ayala-Hurtado ](/people/elena-ayala-hurtado-1) [### Matthew Gerard Baggetta ](/people/matthew-gerard-baggetta) [### Silvan Daniel Baier ](/people/silvan-daniel-baier) [### Eun Se Baik ](/people/eun-se-baik) [### Christopher Andrew Bail ](/people/christopher-andrew-bail) ## News related to Inequality [### Symposium on Patterson's Paradox of Freedom Published ](/news/2026/06/symposium-pattersons-paradox-freedom-published) June 15, 2026 The European Journal of Sociology has published the remarks delivered at a panel discussion on the life and work of Stone Program faculty affiliate Orlando Patterson, the John Cowles Professor of Sociology at Harvard University. This event took place at... ![Orlando Patterson](/sites/g/files/omnuum1481/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-09/Orlando%20Patterson%20-%20Photo%20for%20Website.jpg.jpeg?itok=P3soM6JC) [### Ellis Monk awarded ASA Theory Section Award ](/news/2026/06/ellis-monk-awarded-asa-theory-section-award) June 08, 2026 American Sociology Association's Theory Section’s Lewis A Coser Award for Theoretical Agenda-Setting awarded to Professor Ellis Monk. Please see more about the award here . ![Ellis Monk](/sites/g/files/omnuum1481/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2022-11-22_Dr.-Ellis-Monk_Harvard-University-002-2048x1152.jpg?itok=JAdEggaa) [### The Monk Skin Tone Scale now held in permanent collection of UK museum ](/news/2026/06/monk-skin-tone-scale-now-held-permanent-collection-uk-museum) June 02, 2026 Learn more about the Monk Skin Tone Scale, and the display at National Science and Media Museum Sound and Vision galleries. ![Monk skin tone museum display](/sites/g/files/omnuum1481/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2026-06/monk%20scale_museum.jpeg?itok=rAgBrnYj) [### 2026 Sociology Undergraduate Thesis Prizes and Academic Awards ](/news/2026/05/2026-sociology-undergraduate-thesis-prizes-and-academic-awards-0) May 26, 2026 Students receive Fulton, Hoopes, Cummings, and Rose prizes for outstanding thesis work; Five students inducted to Phi Beta Kappa; Three students accepted to American Sociological Association 2026 Honors Program. Read more here. description [### 2026 Sociology Undergraduate Thesis Prizes and Academic Awards ](/news/2026/05/2026-sociology-undergraduate-thesis-prizes-and-academic-awards) May 26, 2026 The department would like to congratulate the following students for their outstanding thesis work and academic achievements during the 2026 academic year: Fulton Prize Each year the Albert M. Fulton, Class of 1897, Prize is presented to the senior who... description ## Related Publications Download 35 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=show_more&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_country%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_featuredpublications%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchclusters%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=1171&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=show_more&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_country%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_featuredpublications%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchclusters%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=1171&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=show_more&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_country%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_featuredpublications%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchclusters%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=1171&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=show_more&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_country%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_featuredpublications%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchclusters%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=1171&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=show_more&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_country%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_featuredpublications%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchclusters%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=1171&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=show_more&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_country%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_featuredpublications%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchclusters%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=1171&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=show_more&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_country%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_featuredpublications%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchclusters%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=1171&&&format=ris) Patterson, O., & Zhuo, X. (2018). [Modern Trafficking, Slavery, and Other Forms of Servitude](/publications/modern-trafficking-slavery-and-other-forms-servitude). *Annual Review of Sociology*, *44*. Patterson, O., & Zhuo, X. (2018). [Modern Trafficking, Slavery, and Other Forms of Servitude](/publications/modern-trafficking-slavery-and-other-forms-servitude). *Annual Review of Sociology*, *44*. Bakhtiari, E., Olafsdottir, S., & Beckfield, J. (2018). [Institutions, Incorporation, and Inequality: The Case of Minority Health Disparities in Europe](/publications/institutions-incorporation-and-inequality-case-minority-health-disparities). *Journal of Health and Social Behavior*. Bakhtiari, E., Olafsdottir, S., & Beckfield, J. (2018). [Institutions, Incorporation, and Inequality: The Case of Minority Health Disparities in Europe](/publications/institutions-incorporation-and-inequality-case-minority-health-disparities). *Journal of Health and Social Behavior*. Beckfield, J., & Krieger, N. (2018). [Political Sociology and the People’s Health (Small Books Big Ideas in Population Health)](/publications/political-sociology-and-peoples-health). In *Small Books Big Ideas in Population Health* (p. 208). Oxford University Press. Beckfield, J., & Krieger, N. (2018). [Political Sociology and the People’s Health (Small Books Big Ideas in Population Health)](/publications/political-sociology-and-peoples-health). In *Small Books Big Ideas in Population Health* (p. 208). Oxford University Press. Show morerefresh