Russel Sage Foundation

A Few Questions for Michèle Lamont on the power of recognizing others

In this brief interview, Lamont discusses her new book, Seeing Others, and makes the case for reexamining what we value to prioritize recognition—the quest for respect—in an age that has been defined by growing inequality and the obsolescence of the American dream.

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A Few Questions for Enobong Hannah Branch and Caroline Hanley on how increasing economic insecurity influences workers’ perceptions of success

In this brief interview, Enobong Hannah Branch and Caroline Hanley discuss their new book, Work in Black and White: Striving for the American Dream, which explores how 79 middle-aged Black and White Americans’ attitudes and perceptions of success are influenced by the stories American culture has told about the American Dream&mash;and about who should have access to it and who should not.

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A Few Questions for RSF journal contributors on the social and political impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this brief interview, contributors to RSF journal issue "The Social and Political Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Kat Albrecht, Rachel Brahinsky, Andrew Burns, Laurel Harbridge-Yong, Sarah James, Claire M. Kamp Dush, Kevin T. Leicht, Carla Pezzia, Theda Skocpol, Elizabeth Suhay, and Emily Sydnor discuss how social and political factors shaped the initial responses to the pandemic and how these responses impacted individuals and communities.

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A Few Questions for RSF journal contributors on the role of status in creating and maintaining inequality

In this brief interview, contributors to RSF journal issue “Status: What It Is and Why It Matters for Inequality,” Fabien Accominotti, Lehn M. Benjamin, Carla Goar, Hilary J. Holbrow, Bianca Manago, Natasha Quadlin, Cecilia L. Ridgeway, and Jane Sell discuss how status functions in society and its role in creating and maintaining inequality.

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A Few Questions for David G. Robinson about algorithms and how they impact organ donations.

In this brief interview, David G. Robinson discusses his new book, Voices in the Code: A Story About People, Their Values and the Algorithm They Made, which examines the development of the Kidney Allocation System.

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A Few Questions for RSF journal contributors on how the changing nature of work and families impacts low-income families

In this brief interview, contributors to RSF journal issue “Low-Income Families in the Twenty-First Century: Effective Public Policy Responses,” Elizabeth O. Ananat, Sarah Halpern-Meekin, Pamela Joshi, Sigrid Luhr, Katherine M. Michelmore, Natasha V. Pilkauskas, Jennifer Randles, David E. Rangel, and Alejandra Ros Pilarz discuss how the changing natures of work and families impacts low-income families.

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A Few Questions for Anna Rhodes about how recovery from climate-related disasters worsens inequality in suburban, middle-class communities.

In this brief interview, Anna Rhodes discusses her new book, co-authored with Max Besbris, Soaking the Middle Class: Suburban Inequality and Recovery from Disaster, which examines how homeowners in Friendswood, Texas recovered from Hurricane Harvey and how the recovery process fostered inequality in the community.

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A Few Questions for RSF journal contributors on how growing up rural shapes life outcomes, Part 1 and Part 2.

In this brief interview, contributors to RSF journal issue "Growing Up Rural: How Place Shapes Life Outcomes," Jessica Drescher, Robert D. Francis, Lisa A. Keister, Emily E. N. Miller, Alejandra Miranda, Kai A. Schafft, and Jennifer Sherman discuss the effects of rural life on family, educational attainment, and economic security.

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A Few Questions for Meredith Greif about how local housing laws impact landlords and ultimately disadvantage low-income tenants, Part 1 and Part 2.

In this brief interview, Meredith Greif discusses her new book Collateral Damages: Landlords and the Urban Housing Crisis, which follows private landlords serving low- and moderate-income residents in the Cleveland, Ohio metropolitan area to better understand how local regulations affect their landlording practices.

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A Few Questions for Ann Morning & Marcello Maneri about how everyday people understand race in Italy and the United States, Part 1 and Part 2.

In this interview, Morning and Maneri discuss their new RSF book An Ugly Word: Rethinking Race in Italy and the United States, which draws on interviews with residents of Italy and the United States to better understand how average Americans and Europeans think and talk about race, how their understandings of group difference are similar, as well as how they vary.

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A Few Questions for Natasha Quadlin & Brian Powell about public opinion on who should pay for college, Part 3.

In Part 3 of this interview, Quadlin and Powell discuss their new RSF book Who Should Pay? Higher Education, Responsibility, and the Public, which explores rapidly changing public opinion on who should be primarily responsible for the funding of college.

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A Few Questions for Alexes Harris about state monetary sanctions and racial and economic inequality, Part 2.

In Part 2 of this interview, Harris discusses findings from “State Monetary Sanctions and the Costs of the Criminal Legal System,” which she co-edited with Mary Patillo (Northwestern University) and Bryan L. Sykes (University of California, Irvine).

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A Few Questions for Natasha Quadlin & Brian Powell about public opinion on who should pay for college, Part 2.

In Part 2 of this interview, Quadlin and Powell discuss their new RSF book Who Should Pay? Higher Education, Responsibility, and the Public, which explores rapidly changing public opinion on who should be primarily responsible for the funding of college.

Listen to the full interview and read the transcript

A Few Questions for Alexes Harris about state monetary sanctions and racial and economic inequality, Part 1.

In this interview, Harris discusses findings from “State Monetary Sanctions and the Costs of the Criminal Legal System,” which she co-edited with Mary Patillo (Northwestern University) and Bryan L. Sykes (University of California, Irvine).

Listen to the full interview and read the transcript

A Few Questions for Natasha Quadlin & Brian Powell about public opinion on who should pay for college, Part 1.

In this brief interview, Quadlin and Powell discuss their new RSF book Who Should Pay? Higher Education, Responsibility, and the Public, which explores rapidly changing public opinion on who should be primarily responsible for the funding of college

Listen to the full interview and read the transcript

A Few Questions for Greg Duncan, discussing how poverty reduction measures affect child development.

In this brief interview with RSF, Duncan discusses his work with the Baby’s First Years study, which assesses the impact of poverty reduction on family life and infant and toddlers’ cognitive, emotional, and brain development.

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