iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

7/ The book helped inspire my paper with William Brock A Formal Model of Theory Choice in Science, Economic Theory, 1999.

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6/ The book is important because of its (I would argue decisive) rebuttal of various challenges to the meaning and fact of scientific progress, challenges that may be found in various arguments in philosophy and sociology (the so-called Sociology of Scientific Knowledge).

5/ The Advancement of Science: Science without Legend, Objectivity without Illusions is a modern classic in the philosophy of science. The book develops a systemic analysis of how scientific progress can occur by emphasizing how scientific communities evolve.

4/ While not the focus of our conversation, I highly recommend two other Kitcher books. On John Stuart Mill is based on Kitcher's lectures in the Columbia core and presents a pragmatic view of Mill and emphasizes Mill's profoundly humane vision of a good society.

3/ The Main Enterprise of the World: Rethinking Education develops a rich vision of education as integral to what constitutes a good society, with deep implications for its organization. Kitcher follows John Dewey in focusing on education as forming "fundamental dispositions" of the citizenry.

2/ The Rich & The Poor represents a call to arms about the ways public policy and academia think about inequality and destitution. The book calls for a reinvigoration of both with ethical considerations in identifying questions and in conceptualizing policy objectives.

1/ Delighted that this conversation with Philip Kitcher, an intellectual hero, has posted. The podcast focuses on two recent books.

Interestingly, the transition between epochs coincides with the Opium Wars and Taiping Rebellion, demonstrating how the footprints of major crises in the late Qing era appear in the mobility dynamics.

In contrast, the second epoch, beginning around 1850, exhibits unstable intergenerational class dynamics that persist until the dynasty’s collapse. This epoch reveals a collapse of upward mobility for the late empire.

While each generation possesses a specific mobility structure, we identify two epochs that characterize them. Before 1850, the generation-specific transition matrices appear to exhibit convergence toward a steady state.

These data allow us to estimate a nonhomogeneous Markov transition matrix for mobility and study how mobility evolved. We employ novel intergenerational mobility measures deriving from alternative mobility concepts-persistence of class origin across generations and intergenerational class movement.

Our analysis uses a remarkable data set from the Liaoning province in Northeast China developed by James Lee and Cameron Campbell, which allows us to study the evolution for status mobility for six generations from the late 1700's to the end of Imperial China.

Before discussing the paper, it is important to note that Kristina, who is currently a postdoc at @UCStoneCenter, will be on the job market this year. She is an absolutely first-rate scholar whose presence would make any social science community in the world a more vibrant one.

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Delighted that this paper with Kristina Butaeva @butaevak.bsky.social and Alexander Shapoval is now public.

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With graduation season here, students are focused on their job prospects in the age of AI. @durlauf.bsky.social told @hechingerreport.org that AI's effects continue evolving and remain difficult to distinguish from the many economic disruptions of recent years. Read: bit.ly/4ejXK1L

bit.ly

What it’s like to enter the job market in the middle of an AI revolution

‘It’s not looking good’: The unemployment rate for recent grads is the highest in five years, but AI is not primarily to blame — at least not yet

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The focus on constraints, in turn, avoids artificial distinctions between inequality of opportunity and inequality of outcomes. The book's policy recommends derive from the background view that systemic understandings of inequality needs to replace more individual-level approaches.

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Manifesto for A Dream: Inequality, Constraint, and Radical Reform is a broad ranging evaluation of the determinants of inequalities that is equally rigorous and humane. A argument is that policies should focus reducing inequalities of constraints.

This vision contains deep implications for labor market and intergenerational inequality. This is one of the best books on inequality I have read in the last several years. This is one of the best books on inequality I have read in the last several years.

Michelle argues that rationalization of the economy facilitated by increased capacity to understand and measure how productivity of individuals and organizations is determined, underlies this evolution.

The Division of Rationalized Labor is a remarkable analysis of the nature of modern jobs. The book argues that the modern economy has produced jobs of increasing complexity as a given position involves more complex and heterogeneous objectives.

Guido Alfani @guidoalfani.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Delighted that this wonderful conversation with Michelle Jackson @mivich.bsky.social has now posted. Much of the conversation involves two fascinating books she has written: The Division of Rationalized Labor and Manifesto for A Dream: Inequality, Constraint, and Radical Reform.

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The interdisciplinary team of lecturers includes Steven Durlauf @durlauf.bsky.social, Béatrice Cherrier, Ariel Kalil @arielkalil.bsky.social, Zachary Parolin @zparolin.bsky.social, Paola Profeta @paolaprofeta.bsky.social, and me. Details for applying here👇 email.harris.uchicago.edu/-temporary-s...

email.harris.uchicago.edu

Join Us in Milan: Applications Open for the Summer School on Socioeconomic Oppertunity & Inequality

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Proud of your thesis or dissertation? Or know someone who should be? The Stone Center Awards are now accepting nominations from both authors and advisors. Winners receive formal recognition and a cash prize. Deadline to apply: May 8 Nominate today: bit.ly/3Oq1l5u

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

It’s not just about who you know; it’s the networks you belong to. @marioluissmall.bsky.social is pushing us to expand our focus from individuals to the structures that connect them. Listen to this week's episode of The Inequality Podcast with host @durlauf.bsky.social: bit.ly/3PWzw5d

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Our Summer School mentors are @guidoalfani.bsky.social, Béatrice Cherrier, @durlauf.bsky.social, Ariel Kalil, @paolaprofeta.bsky.social, @zparolin.bsky.social, and Antonio Villafranca. Don't miss your chance to learn from the best!

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Registration is now open for the Inequality Workshop’s spring quarter! We’re hosting four scholars whose research tackles big questions related to families, education, population trends, and immigration. Save your seat today → bit.ly/47pGAx8

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Historian Kim Bowes wants us to stop calling ancient Romans "peasants." Talking with @durlauf.bsky.social, she details their use of credit, discretionary consumption, and economic shock planning, revealing a truly sophisticated society. Listen to The Inequality Podcast→ bit.ly/3PWoz3q

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Our latest conference, Assessing Meritocracy, brought together scholars from eight countries to examine how meritocratic systems are implemented across contexts. Hosted in partnership with the International Institute of Research in Paris, it sharpened ideas and revealed new research directions.

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Panelists: 🏛️ Steven Durlauf (@durlauf.bsky.social) – Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor, @harrispolicy.bsky.social 🏅Joel Moykr – Robert H. Strotz Professor, Northwestern University, 2025 Nobel Laureate 🏅James Robinson – Professor, University of Chicago, 2024 Nobel Laureate

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

How much of your life is shaped by the groups you belong to? @durlauf.bsky.social argues that this question is central to understanding inequality. He thinks the biggest policy wins may come from targeting the "bottlenecks" where group selection occurs. Listen to Durlauf on The Pie → bit.ly/4sTrLva

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Joseph Stiglitz has a gift for turning classic market arguments on their head. In conversation with @durlauf.bsky.social, he frames the economy as a balancing act, with forces pulling and pushing it towards equilibrium. This tension, shaped by politics, drives inequality. Listen now → bit.ly/4bbnKe0

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LSE Inequalities @lseinequalities.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Coming up this Wednesday! @durlauf.bsky.social of @ucstonecenter.bsky.social will discuss intergenerational mobility in China for two distinct epochs: the last 120 years of the Qing Dynasty and the last 30 years for modern China. Register here ⬇️ events.ticketleap.com/tickets/iiil...

events.ticketleap.com

Status mobility in China: past and present

Status mobility in China: past and present LSE Centre Building 2.06 and on Zoom Speaker:Professor Steven Durlauf, Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor and Director of the Stone Center for R...

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LSE Inequalities @lseinequalities.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Join us for a special seminar by @durlauf.bsky.social of @ucstonecenter.bsky.social He will describe intergenerational mobility in China for two epochs: the last 120 years of the Qing Dynasty and the last 30 years for modern China. Attend in-person: buff.ly/XSqKGsp Attend online: buff.ly/9WnHeg7

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An extremely valuable synthesis of evidence on the effects of Head Start by @chloergibbs.bsky.social. Recommended!

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3/ As such, the authors move beyond debates about the "cause" of the French Revolution to understanding the interplay of proximate and deeper factors. A remarkable achievement.

2/ The paper is a stunning integration of data ranging from spatial tax differences to analysis of the speeches of deputies in the National Assembly. The paper further explores the interplay of economic factors (tax burden) with measures reflecting differences in diffusion of Enlightenment ideas.

Steven Durlauf @durlauf.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

1/ Tommaso Giommoni, Gabriel Loumeau, and Marco Tabellini have written a fascinating paper on the forces influencing the dynamics of the French Revolution, ranging from The Great Fear to the decision to execute Louis XVI.

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3/ Weiqi Wang is a predoc at the Center, developing great work on college admissions in China in addition to her work on intergenerational mobility. Every Economics PhD program in the world should be competing to attract her when she applies.

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Steven Durlauf @durlauf.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

2/ Kristina Butaeva is a wonderful postdoc at the UChicago Stone Center, with papers on inequality and mobility that range from the US to Russia to China. She makes any social science department or research center deeper and more interesting.

Steven Durlauf @durlauf.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

1/ Delighted that this paper with my coauthors extraordinaire, @gtwodtke.bsky.social, Weiqi Wang, and Kristina Butaeva has been released. I want to highlight two of my coauthors. (Geoff Wodtke is a star sociologist and needs no introduction!)

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Steven Durlauf @durlauf.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

I am delighted that this great conversation with Ran Abramitzky and Leah Boustan has posted. Their extraordinary work on intergenerational mobility and immigrants speaks to essential dimensions of the extent of equality of opportunity and of the process of assimilation.

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UChicago | Stone Center on Wealth Inequality & Mobility @ucstonecenter.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Ran Abramitzky and Leah Boustan are using economic history to understand immigration. On The Inequality Podcast, they examine patterns of upward mobility and preview new research on the tone of modern political speeches. Listen to their conversation with @durlauf.bsky.social → bit.ly/4txjJsL

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Steven Durlauf @durlauf.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

7/As for suggestions that this is virtual signalling, an example of cancel culture, my answer is simple. Virtuous conduct matters. Faculty/administrators help define the norms of their institutions. Attitudes and characters affect manifest in their decisions and interactions. Institutions must act.