Large Language Models for Inequality Research

Large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence stand to reshape social and economic inequality in the years to come, but they also offer powerful new tools for studying inequality. Our team pursues both strands of research, examining (1) how the rise of artificial intelligence affects employment patterns, income inequality, and wealth inequality, and (2) how these new tools can reveal new insights into patterns of inequality. Our recent work includes using text-as-data methods to track how the content of collective bargaining agreements has evolved, constructing and evaluating a large database of UK housing planning applications, and more.