Equity in Economic Opportunity
SAVI Talks - March 25, 2021Building on research by Harvard’s Raj Chetty and his team, we are developing new insights and highlighting findings about opportunity in Indianapolis neighborhoods. The average child born into a high-income family in Indianapolis earned $50,000 in household income when they were about 35. Children born to low-income families grew up to earn $27,000.
- Indianapolis’ level of opportunity for low-income children is lower than all but two of the largest U.S. cities. Only Atlanta and Charlotte have worse outcomes than Indianapolis.
- The average Black child born in Indianapolis earns $9,000 less than the average White child. There is a spatial disparity too: In many neighborhoods, children who grew up there earn less than $20,000 per year. In other neighborhoods, children born at the same income level grow up to earn $35,000 or more.
- Neighborhoods that are segregated clearly have lower opportunity outcomes for children. People born into Redlined neighborhoods have less economic opportunity, even when controlling for their parents’ income.
Articles and Story Maps
Explore other research and interactive content we have developed around equity.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Dept. Use of Force Report
When officers respond to emergencies that put them and the public in high-stress environments, they must make quick decisions that are in the best interests of everyone involved. Officers must rely on training, morale, and guidance from their agencies to determine the...
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Use of Force Report
When officers respond to emergencies that put them and the public in high-stress environments, they must make quick decisions that are in the best interests of everyone involved. Officers must rely on training, morale, and guidance from their agencies to determine...
Empowering Indiana Communities with Evictions & Foreclosure Data
More than 3.5 million U.S. households are threatened with eviction each year, a poignant illustration of rising housing costs. And, evictions have been rising steadily across Indiana since the end of COVID-19 eviction protections. The causes of eviction can be...
Empowering Indiana Communities with Evictions & Foreclosure Data
More than 3.5 million U.S. households are threatened with eviction each year, a poignant illustration of rising housing costs. The causes of eviction can be complex, following a synergy of poverty and low wages, rising rent costs, inflation, and drug and mental health...
Greenspace Assessment for Marion County
Greenspace is an important component of urban centers and can have many beneficial effects for both humans and the environment. However, greenspace is not equal across an entire urban center, nor can it be developed in the same ways throughout a city. Based on a...
Equity in Criminal Prosecutions: Analyzing Case Filings from the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office
The Kheprw Institute and The Polis Center are partnering to better understand the criminal justice system in Marion County and investigate potential disparities. Previous research from the Polis Center estimated that Black residents of Marion County were 2.7 times...
2022 Midterm Election Voter Turnout in Marion County
Key points Voter turnout in Marion County is low relative to Indiana and the U.S. Within Marion County, there is great variation in voter turnout between precincts Lower voter turnout in Marion County tends to occur in areas that are less affluent, have lower...
Transportation Equity and the Older Adult Population
Access to transportation is important because it empowers older adults to maintain their independence. Transportation opportunities for older adults may take different forms, including driving, public transportation, ride-share service, or shuttle buses. This report...
Follow the Money: Indianapolis Evictions in 2022
Eviction filings are on the rise compared to last year, but still lower than before the pandemic. Most evictions are from large owners of big apartment complexes.
Who is in the Marion County Jail? Exploring Length of Stay through an Equity Lens
We analyzed more than 283,000 bookings into Marion County’s jails between 2013 and 2021 to discover how many people are in jail, the characteristics of those in jail, and how long people remain in jail. This dataset spans nine years. In that time, state laws changed...
Authors
Sharon Kandris
Associate Director,
The Polis Center
Jay Colbert,
Data Manager,
The Polis Center
Jeramy Townsley,
Visiting Research Analyst,
The Polis Center
Matt Nowlin,
Research Analyst,
The Polis Center