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NORC at the University Chicago
NORC has studied both the causes and perceptions of poverty and inequality since our founding.

By some estimates, the top one percent of Americans earn 20 percent of the income. Wealth inequality is even more dramatic, with a mere 0.1 percent of the population controlling more than 20 percent of the wealth. At the same time, more than 45 million Americans live in poverty, according to recent Census data. This level of inequality has implications for social and economic mobility, professional and educational attainment, and food and housing security, as well as the entrepreneurship and innovation that drive our economy.

NORC is one of the nation’s leading sources of reliable, independent data on poverty and inequality in this country and around the world. One of NORC’s very first studies was a survey of public perceptions about race, economic status, and poverty. Since then, NORC researchers have explored the world of low-wage work, examined the economic impact of early childhood care and development, and studied a variety of social safety net and economic development programs both in the United States and abroad.

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Poverty & Inequality Experts

Highlighted Projects

Chicago Health and Activity in Real-Time (CHART)

The first-ever study documenting how activity spaces change as people age

Client:

The National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health

‘Closer to Home’ and ‘A Path to Equity’

Exploring the impact of more equitable access to pre-k on student outcomes

Client:

Institute of Education Sciences

Oakland Promise Brilliant Baby Evaluation

Assessing the impact of a “two-generation” intervention on college attainment

Client:

Oakland Promise

Making Connections Surveys

A longitudinal and cross-sectional study conducted in low-income neighborhoods in ten U.S. cities

Client:

The Annie E Casey Foundation

Making Connections Research Scholars

Providing analytical opportunities for early-career scholars and researchers of color

Funder:

The Annie E. Casey Foundation

The Concordance Academy Evaluation

An experiment to test the effectiveness of a novel prisoner reentry program in St. Louis, Missouri

Client:

The Concordance Academy

Housing Needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians

Conducting a culturally sensitive study in tribal and indigenous areas to inform housing policy

Client:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Financial Aspirations of Black Americans

A study of the financial status and aspirations of Black Americans

Client:

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

The Forefront Racial Equity Collective Mapping Survey

Identifying organizations and initiatives advancing racial equity in Illinois

Client:

Forefront

Feeding America’s Child & Family Choice Program

The first rigorous assessment of increasing choice for food pantries and the families they serve

Client:

Feeding America National Office (FANO)

LEO Friends of the Children Follow-up Interviews

Conducting post-intervention follow-up interviews with caregivers of children living in poverty

Client:

Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunity (LEO)

LEO Maternity Homes Follow-Up Interviews

Conducting post-intervention follow-up interviews with unhoused pregnant women

Client:

Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunity (LEO)

Prosecutorial Discretion in Probation Revocations

Exploring the prosecutor’s role in setting supervision conditions and in the decisions made regarding those who violate them

Client:

Arnold Ventures LLC

Racial Equity and Justice Initiative

Developing an interactive mapping tool of Illinois organizations advancing racial equity

Client:

The Ad Council

LEO Catholic Charities Los Angeles Follow-up Interviews

Post-intervention follow-up interviews with youth facing barriers to employment

Client:

Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunity (LEO)

NYC Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative

Exploring the collateral consequences of drug arrests in New York City

Client:

New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ)

Evaluation and Learning Partner for the Corporate Coalition

Using inclusive and equitable research methods to inform community-building investment initiatives

Client:

The Corporate Coalition of Chicago

Study of Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Collecting new data for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations for the first time in 20 years

Funder:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service

Exploring the Menthol Ban Narrative on Social Media

Building a community engagement panel to study the impact of the FDA's menthol ban on Black/Latinx communities

Funder:

American Heart Association; Truth Initiative

Descriptive Study of the Coordination of Tribal TANF and Child Welfare Services

Evaluation of ACF awarded grantees coordination of tribal TANF and child welfare services

Client:

Administration for Children and Families, Health and Human Services Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation

UCLA Data Equity Center Technical Assistance

Supporting collection, imputation, weighting, analysis, and dissemination of data to promote health equity

Client:

University of California, Los Angeles, Data Equity Center