Social, Political and Economic Inequality Grants

Social, Political and Economic Inequality Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Russell Sage Foundation
Last Updated: January 26, 2026

Summary

The Russell Sage Foundation's Social, Political, and Economic Inequality Grants support innovative research that explores the causes and effects of social, political, and economic inequalities in the U.S. This program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and original data collection to better understand the mechanisms influencing individual and community outcomes. Projects should focus on critical issues such as economic mobility, educational access, and civic participation, aiming to generate insights that can inform policy and improve societal equity.

Overview

Social, Political and Economic Inequality We seek innovative investigator-initiated research that will expand our understanding of social, political, and economic inequalities and the mechanisms by which they influence the lives of individuals, families, and communities. We welcome projects that explore the relevance of economic, racial, ethnic, age, gender, immigration, residence, or other statuses for the distribution of social, political, and economic outcomes within and across different status groups. The kinds of questions that are of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: Economic Wellbeing, Equality of Opportunity, and Intergenerational Mobility To what extent has increased economic inequality (e.g., in income, wealth, consumption) affected equality of opportunity and mobility within and across generations? How have these effects varied by socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, gender, geographic, immigration or other statuses? What are the causes and consequences of disparities in income, wealth, and consumption? How has equality of opportunity changed over time or across groups, and what historical or contemporary factors are likely to change its future trajectory? What are the consequences of inter- and intragenerational mobility for individuals and society?How do demographic and labor-market shifts contribute, individually and jointly, to the persistence of inequality within and across generations?What are the implications of differentially distributed economic rewards and constrained safety net resources for the socio-economic wellbeing of families and children both in the course of everyday life and when they experience significant economic shocks?To what extent do extreme weather conditions related to climate change, such as rising temperatures, affect inequalities in employment, earnings, income, and wealth? Inequality and Policymaking What policies are effective at breaking the association between parental educational and economic status and the next generation’s outcomes? How do the effects of these policies vary by race/ethnicity/gender/geography/immigration status?How have economic and social inequalities affected political participation, support for and stability of democracy, the responsiveness of elected officials to public opinion, or the shape of government policies?How have federal, state, or local policies and changes in these policies affected the opportunities and wellbeing of economically or socially disadvantaged people?What barriers limit access to and uptake of public benefits by race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, and region? How have they changed over time?How have Supreme Court (federal or state) and other legal decisions lessened or exacerbated social, political, or economic inequality?Do disparities in access or exposure to political information or misinformation influence political participation or related outcomes? How do these vary by socio-economic status/race/ethnicity/gender/geography/immigration status?How does access to democratic institutions, democratic practices and political power and influence vary by socio-economic, race, ethnicity, gender, geography, immigration, or other status? Political Institutions and the Democratic Process What social, political, and economic factors have contributed to partisan polarization and what are the consequences of this polarization? Have these effects varied by socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, gender, geographic, immigration or other statuses? What social, political, and economic factors contribute to the development of pro- or anti-democratic attitudes among citizens and political leaders? To what extent have disparities in access or exposure to political information or misinformation influenced political participation and attitudes and trust in institutions? How do these effects vary by socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, gender, geographic, immigration or other statuses? Neighborhoods and Communities What are the long-run consequences of growing up in economically or racially segregated neighborhoods?What are the causes and consequences of declining geographic mobility from areas experiencing economic distress and how do they differ by race/ethnicity, gender, education, or other statuses?What are the legacies of policies such as redlining and exclusionary housing ordinances for the opportunity and mobility of African Americans and others affected by these policies? How have zoning, environmental regulations, and housing density policies created or limited economic mobility and opportunity?How are investments in public resources, such as transportation or schools, shaped by political considerations and how do they affect social and economic wellbeing?How do the socio-economic effects of climate-related disasters, like wildfires or hurricanes, and their recovery, vary by race, ethnicity, gender, geography, and social class? Crime, Criminal Justice & the Legal System How does the experience of incarceration affect immediate and long-term opportunities in the domains of housing, civic participation, employment, education, and income?How have criminal justice policies impacted opportunities for mobility?To what extent does incarceration of family members affect young people’s opportunities regarding housing, education, employment, or income? Psychological and/or Cultural Changes To what extent has increased social, political, or economic inequality affected values, beliefs, and behaviors, including young people’s career or educational attainment? How do social, political, or economic inequalities affect perceptions of risk or threat, or cultural biases or stereotypes? How might such perceptions or biases affect inequalities in decision-making, such as the behaviors or decisions of landlords, employers, or police? Has increased social, political, or economic inequality affected attitudes and values about the roles and responsibilities of social institutions, businesses, and governments, and how? What are the psychological consequences of income scarcity and other forms of economic distress, on decision-making regarding education housing or employment? Educational Attainment How has increased economic inequality affected educational choices, opportunities, achievement, or attainment? What policies or interventions can reduce disparities in these educational outcomes?To what extent does school diversity (i.e., teachers, staff, students) or teacher attitudes, behaviors, and bias affect student achievement and educational attainment?How might linking educational administrative data to employment, tax or other records provide new insights about life trajectories and factors relevant to educational attainment and labor market outcomes?

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.