The Visiting Scholars program, now in its thirtieth year, provides a unique opportunity for scholars to pursue their research and writing while in residence at the Foundation, and is an important part of the Foundation's effort to analyze and understand the complex and shifting nature of social, political, and economic life in the United States.
During their time in residence, they will pursue research and writing projects that reflect the Foundation's commitment to strengthening the social sciences and conducting research "for the improvement of social and living conditions in the United States."
Using data from the National Asset Scorecard for Communities of Color (NASCC), Darity—the Samuel DuBois Cook Professor of Public Policy, African & African American Studies, and Economics—will investigate the factors that drive racial wealth disparities. He will review prior studies on wealth transmission against the NASCC data to reassess the role that gifts and inheritances play in shaping the racial wealth gap. Darity will also examine the validity of the conventional belief that home ownership is the primary route to wealth accumulation for most Americans.
