Unequal by Design: A Historical Perspective on Economic Inequality Across Communities

November 6, 2025

Month 7: The Decline of Manufacturing and the Rise of Economic Inequality

The seventh section of the Economic Inequality series explores how the decline of manufacturing and the rising importance of education have reshaped economic opportunity in the Midwest, disproportionately affecting Black and low-income communities. Tariffs and federal education cuts under the current administration have intensified these challenges, making both jobs and education less accessible.

This paper examines the twin crises of deindustrialization and the rising education premium, their differential impacts across racial and geographic lines, and targeted policy interventions to stabilize industrial communities and expand educational opportunity.