Michael W. Kraus
Numbers, Not Narratives, Remedy Misperceptions of the Racial Wealth Gap
A series of studies co-authored by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus have shown that Americans vastly underestimate the wealth gap facing Black Americans. The latest research shows that detailed data is more effective than personal narratives in improving their understanding.
![A $100 bill torn into two sections]()
How American Mythologies Fuel Anti-Asian Violence
The wave of attacks against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities over the last year fits into a long history of violence driven by rhetoric portraying Asians as disease ridden, writes Prof. Michael Kraus.
![An End The Violence Towards Asians rally in New York City's Washington Square Park on February 20, 2021. Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images.]()
A Key Factor in Well-Being: Others’ Apparent Wealth
Money may not lead to happiness, but according to a new study co-authored by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus, our perceived wealth and status relative to others does affect how happy we are.
![Two goldfish in separate bowls, one empty and one with toys and decorations]()
The Wealth Gap Facing Black Americans Is Vast—and Vastly Underestimated
For every $100 in wealth held by a White family, a Black family has just $10. But studies by Yale’s Jennifer Richeson and Michael Kraus show that Americans believe that the disparity is much smaller.
![An illustration of a chart of the wealth gap over the word "Inequality"]()
How White Managers Can Respond to Anti-Black Violence
Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus offers a series of concrete steps that leaders can take to combat racism in their own organizations—and contribute to the societal fight against injustice.
![A demonstrator speaking to police officers during a protest on May 31, 2020, in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images.]()
Anti-Asian Racism Exposes the Model Minority Myth
Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus and Eunice Eun argue that anti-Asian bias provoked by COVID-19 reveals the ongoing influence of racism in the country.
![Members of the Asian American Commission hold a press conference.]()
A Few Seconds of Speech Sparks Class Bias in Hiring
New research by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus shows that people can accurately assess a stranger’s socioeconomic position based on brief speech patterns and that these snap perceptions influence hiring managers in ways that favor job applicants from higher social classes.
![A green pear with a green speech bubble and a red apple with a red speech bubble]()
When the School Mascot Is a Native American Stereotype
Researchers led by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus and psychology doctoral student Xanni Brown found that a university community’s acceptance of a racist symbol affects students’ sense of belonging and may decrease willingness to donate in the future.
![A protest before a Washington Redskins-Minnesota Vikings football game in Minneapolis in 2014. Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images.]()
The Power Pod: A Conversation on Religion, Identity, and Belonging with Dr. Mikey Pasek
On this #powerpod episode we are joined by Dr. Mikey Pasek of the New School for Social Research. Dr. Pasek studies religious identity and the relationships between religious threat and belonging. Dr. Pasek's work on this topic can be found here: The paper detailing the success of the initiative can be found here.
![Evans Hall]()
Stereotypes of Asian Americans Skew Estimates of Racial Wealth Gap
According to Yale SOM's Michael Kraus, the stereotype of high-achieving Asian Americans may obscure the needs of communities living in poverty and contribute to bias against other groups.
![Demonstrators supporting Harvard University’s admission process at a protest in October 2018. Photo: Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images.]()
