Janet Gornick
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janetgornick.bsky.social
Janet Gornick
@janetgornick.bsky.social

Professor of Political Science & Sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center, and Director of Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality / Home to the US Office of LIS

Political science 45%
Economics 21%

New Stone Center WP! "Our estimates of inequality of opportunity for income acquisition suggest that...46% to 66% of contemporary income Gini coefficients can be predicted by a relatively narrow set of inherited circumstances, making Latin America a region of high #inequality inheritability ..." 👇👇
How much inequality passes from generation to generation in Latin America? A new WP by Francisco Ferreira, @paolobrunori.bsky.social, @gneidhofer.bsky.social, @psalasr.bsky.social & Louis Sirugue finds that 30–50% of educational inequality and 46–66% of income inequality is inherited.
bit.ly/4nR04Qq

"This paper shows that expected intergenerational transfers are an important driver of education choices. Using Italian micro-data, I document that youths expecting an inheritance are almost 20 percentage points (more than 60%) more likely to attend university, ceteris paribus." #inequality 👇👇👇
Expecting an inheritance influences an individual's education decisions — not because of the anticipated windfall, but because the heir will need to finance future intergenerational transfers, a new working paper by @janmazza.bsky.social finds.

stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/publications...

"Italy's low taxation of inheritance stunts social mobility and preserves privilege from one generation to the next," said [Salvatore] Morelli, an economics professor at Rome's Roma Tre University and head of the City University of New York's Graduate Center Wealth Project. @stone-lis.bsky.social 👇👇
“Italy’s light touch on inheritance tax comes at a cost”
Thanks to @reuters.com for drawing on GCWealthProject data (via @stone-lis.bsky.social) to show that, in Italy, inherited wealth as a share of GDP has doubled over the past 30 years, while the inheritance tax remains one of the lowest in Eu

"Currently, there’s nothing really constraining growing wealth concentration at the top. And there’s also very little in place that limits the channel from wealth to political power. These two ways tackle different dimensions of the problem. If I were a policymaker, I would push for both..." 👇👇👇

Reposted by Janet Gornick

Expecting an inheritance influences an individual's education decisions — not because of the anticipated windfall, but because the heir will need to finance future intergenerational transfers, a new working paper by @janmazza.bsky.social finds.

stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/publications...

Reposted by Janet Gornick

“Italy’s light touch on inheritance tax comes at a cost”
Thanks to @reuters.com for drawing on GCWealthProject data (via @stone-lis.bsky.social) to show that, in Italy, inherited wealth as a share of GDP has doubled over the past 30 years, while the inheritance tax remains one of the lowest in Eu
"The illusion of 'Degrowth' in a Poor and Unequal World," an essay from @brankomilan.bsky.social's 2025 collection, "The World Under Capitalism," explains why degrowth isn't a viable way to reduce emissions. Read the excerpt on the Stone Center site.
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/the-illusion...
The Illusion of “Degrowth” in a Poor and Unequal World - Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality
An excerpt from Branko Milanovic's latest book, The World Under Capitalism: Observations on Economics Politics, History, and Culture, a 2025 collection of his essays from the last decade.
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu

Amsterdam friends: this remarkable film will be screened in Amsterdam, twice, tomorrow, Nov 15 - at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) at the Royal Theatre Carré. Amy will be there, as part of Q&A.

www.democracynow.org/events/2025/...

This memorable film premiered in NYC last eve. It chronicles the story of Democracy Now & the indefatigable Amy Goodman. The doc will arrive in theaters in spring 2026; don't miss this well-deserved celebration of (IMHO) the highest-quality journalism in the US.
www.democracynow.org/2025/8/29/st...
“Steal This Story, Please!”: Documentary on Democracy Now! Premieres at Telluride Film Festival
A new documentary, Steal This Story, Please!, which tells the personal story of Amy Goodman and her decadeslong career as an independent journalist, is premiering this Sunday at the Telluride Film Fes...
www.democracynow.org
How much inequality passes from generation to generation in Latin America? A new WP by Francisco Ferreira, @paolobrunori.bsky.social, @gneidhofer.bsky.social, @psalasr.bsky.social & Louis Sirugue finds that 30–50% of educational inequality and 46–66% of income inequality is inherited.
bit.ly/4nR04Qq
Rising wealth concentration tends to undermine democracy, according to a Stone Center Working Paper by @schechtlm.bsky.social. In this interview, he discusses how he drew on two new sources of data to compare democratic backsliding in 50 U.S. states.
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/the-effect-o...
The Effect of Increasing Wealth Inequality on U.S. Democracy at the State Level - Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality
Manuel Schechtl, a 2022–2024 Stone Center postdoctoral scholar, discusses his Stone Center Working Paper, which combines two new sources of data to compare the extent of democratic backsliding in all ...
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu

Check out brand new report on inequality, commissioned by the
G20 South Africa Presidency. I am gratified that we - @stone-lis.bsky.social and, especially, our GC #Wealth Project - had the opportunity to contribute. @josephestiglitz.bsky.social @brankomilan.bsky.social @morellisal.bsky.social
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Another fact from our new G20 Report on Inequality, commissioned by President Ramaphosa:

One in four people globally (2.3 billion) face moderate or severe food insecurity, meaning they have to
regularly skip meals, which is up by 335 million since 2019.

g20.org/wp-content/u...

Interesting paper on asset testing. "While asset tests can improve targeting, they frequently discourage savings, perpetuate financial insecurity, and create administrative barriers that reduce participation among the most vulnerable." @pietrovaletto.bsky.social @ivemarx.bsky.social
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Welfare agencies increasingly rely on targeting to ensure that limited resources reach those deemed most in need. A new WP by @pietrovaletto.bsky.social and @ivemarx.bsky.social shows how asset testing in the EU and US often undermines their stated goal of poverty reduction.
bit.ly/47M6L0c
Welfare agencies increasingly rely on targeting to ensure that limited resources reach those deemed most in need. A new WP by @pietrovaletto.bsky.social and @ivemarx.bsky.social shows how asset testing in the EU and US often undermines their stated goal of poverty reduction.
bit.ly/47M6L0c

I am halfway through this intriguing book and I recommend it! Kasy takes a deep dive into crucial questions about who will gain and retain control of the many rapidly evolving AI tools. He makes a compelling case for the urgency of democratic control of the means of prediction. Take a look! 👇👇👇

Reposted by Janet Gornick

Another fact from our new G20 Report on Inequality, commissioned by President Ramaphosa:

One in four people globally (2.3 billion) face moderate or severe food insecurity, meaning they have to
regularly skip meals, which is up by 335 million since 2019.

g20.org/wp-content/u...

November 5, 2025. Spectacular sunrise over New York City.

Reposted by Janet Gornick

Happy pub day to Stone Center Affiliated Scholar @maxkasy.bsky.social! In this interview, he discusses his new book, The Means of Prediction, which offers a convincing argument for democratic control over AI’s objectives.
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/whos-afraid-...
Who’s Afraid of AI? Maximilian Kasy Discusses His New Book, The Means of Prediction - Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality
Affiliated Scholar Maximilian Kasy discusses his new book, The Means of Prediction: How AI Really Works (and Who Benefits), which offers a convincing argument for democratic control over AI’s objectiv...
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu

Lane Kenworthy - @stone-lis.bsky.social Affiliated Scholar & longtime @lisdata.bsky.social user - discusses "Is Inequality the Problem". Many inequality scholars will be surprised by his central argument: the main problem with inequality is not its damaging consequences. I say: read and ponder! 👇👇👇

Reposted by Janet Gornick

"Is Inequality the Problem?" Stone Center Affiliated Scholar Lane Kenworthy discusses the findings in his new book, offering answers that are neither simple nor expected, while making the case that ethical arguments in favor of reducing inequality are stronger than ever.

bit.ly/43z5EQg
Lane Kenworthy’s New Book Takes on a Controversial Question: ‘Is Inequality the Problem?’ - Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality
Kenworthy, a professor of sociology and the Yankelovich Chair in Social Thought at the University of California, San Diego, discusses the findings in his latest book, which examines whether reducing i...
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu

Reposted by Stephen P. Jenkins

Deadline: Monday (Nov 3). The Stone Center at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, is hiring. Applications are open for two postdocs - one focused on #mobility and #poverty; the other on #wealth. Consider spending two years with us in🎶"New York New York (So Nice they Named it Twice)"!

New Working Paper by Stone Center postdoc Zhexun Mo, coauthored with Katharina Kaeppel, Carsten Schroder, and our Affiliated Scholar Li Yang. Their intriguing findings highlight asymmetry in German vs Chinese perceptions of the other's Foreign Direct Investments. @zhexunmo.bsky.social
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As China became the EU's largest trading partner, public concerns about the country's economic and political influence have grown. This new #WP looks at how German citizens perceive the opportunities and risks of engaging with China, and how much these perceptions align with reality.
bit.ly/4oJ7O8b

Reposted by Janet Gornick

As China became the EU's largest trading partner, public concerns about the country's economic and political influence have grown. This new #WP looks at how German citizens perceive the opportunities and risks of engaging with China, and how much these perceptions align with reality.
bit.ly/4oJ7O8b

Noon (US East Coast) on Nov 4.

Branko Milanovic and David Lay Williams discuss the history of economic and political thought, with panelists John Cassidy, Beatrice Cherrier, and (Stone Center Affiliated Scholar) Anna Stansbury. What a line-up! @stone-lis.bsky.social

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Video is up! On Oct 7, 2025, our Stone Center hosted a panel on "AI and the Future of Work", featuring Daron Acemoglu, Paul Krugman, Danielle Li, and Zeynep Tufekci, moderated by Steven Greenhouse.
Quick summary:
Question: Should we be terrified of the future?
Answer: ... sort of...
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ICYMI, watch AI and the Future of Work feat. @dacemoglumit.bsky.social, prof. at MIT; @pkrugman.bsky.social, research prof. at CUNY Grad Center; Danielle Li, prof. at MIT; @zey.bsky.social, NY Times columnist & moderator Steven Greenhouse. Presented w/ @stone-lis.bsky.social - youtu.be/McYBgZrORi4
AI and the Future of Work
YouTube video by CUNY Graduate Center
youtu.be

Reposted by Janet Gornick

ICYMI, watch AI and the Future of Work feat. @dacemoglumit.bsky.social, prof. at MIT; @pkrugman.bsky.social, research prof. at CUNY Grad Center; Danielle Li, prof. at MIT; @zey.bsky.social, NY Times columnist & moderator Steven Greenhouse. Presented w/ @stone-lis.bsky.social - youtu.be/McYBgZrORi4
AI and the Future of Work
YouTube video by CUNY Graduate Center
youtu.be

New @stone-lis.bsky.social Working Paper by Stone Center postdoctoral scholar Zhexun Mo, coauthored by Sehyun Hong, Nak Nyeon Kim, and our Affiliated Scholar Li Yang. This fascinating paper assesses income #inequality in South Korea during the course of nearly a century. @zhexunmo.bsky.social 👇👇👇
South Korea's transformation from one of the poorest countries to an economic powerhouse masked significant disparities in income and opportunity. A new WP by @shong95.bsky.social, Nak Nyeon Kim, @zhexunmo.bsky.social, and Li Yang provides new inequality estimates from 1933 to 2022.

bit.ly/4nTm91E
Deadline approaching - November 3! Two postdoc positions at the GC-CUNY @stone-lis.bsky.social center in New York City. One position is focused on #mobility and #poverty, the other on #wealth and/or wealth #inequality. Info and link below. #EconSky #Sociology #PoliSciSky 👇👇👇

bit.ly/40TZR6J
Applications Are Open for Two Postdoctoral Positions at the GC CUNY Stone Center - Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality
The Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality is seeking applicants for an eighth cohort of postdoctoral scholars. These full-time, two-year positions will begin in August 2026.
bit.ly

New York City is having some thoughts.

Reposted by Janet Gornick

South Korea's transformation from one of the poorest countries to an economic powerhouse masked significant disparities in income and opportunity. A new WP by @shong95.bsky.social, Nak Nyeon Kim, @zhexunmo.bsky.social, and Li Yang provides new inequality estimates from 1933 to 2022.

bit.ly/4nTm91E