Poverty
Learning from the Watts Rebellion
Half a century on, we need to recommit ourselves to correcting the conditions that undergirded the civil unrest of the 1960s.
Desegregation Is Not Intolerable Social Engineering
The new HUD desegregation rule is a democratic reform, not a utopian one.
Effective Altruism’s Political Blind Spot
“Effective altruism,” the philanthropic movement founded on Peter Singer’s ideas, applies a consequentialist philosophy to the problem of global poverty.
The Logic of Effective Altruism
A minimally acceptable ethical life requires using a substantial part of one’s spare resources to make the world a better place.
Corporate Welfare Is Draining Baltimore
We need to turn to the economic violence that attends police violence.
The Neighborhood Effect
A bad environment can worsen the life chances not only of a child, but that of the child’s child.
Marriage Won’t Cure Poverty
Women’s increasing independence doesn’t bode well for the traditional institution of marriage.
Studying the Rich
Thomas Piketty dismantles received economic wisdom on inequality—including the idea that it is necessary for a rising tide to lift all boats.
7 Bipartisan Reasons to Raise the Minimum Wage
It's only fair, and other reasons why voters on all sides should agree.
The Public Housing Experiment
Public housing has been a significant part of the debate over American government safety net programs.
Trusting the Poor
Welfare policy breeds distrust, which in turn undermines outcomes. Judith A. Levine offers modest proposals for how we can reach the most disadvantaged among us.
How De Blasio’s Real Estate Choices Can Save NYC
Cities can make decisions. Cities can set their own priorities. Cities can resist the self-interested categories of those with extraordinary wealth.
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