The high cost of racism: Inequality, the economy, and public health (21 March 2022)

Summary

Economist Dana Peterson estimates that the economic toll of racism against Black Americans was $16 trillion over the past two decades. Discriminatory lending, wage disparities and inequities in access to higher education, among other factors, have limited the Black community’s ability to generate personal wealth and economic growth. Other minority communities have had similar experiences, and the impact goes far beyond the economy; each of these factors also takes an enormous toll on the health and wellbeing of people of colour. This is the recording of a panel discussion hosted by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in which economic, scientific and policy experts discuss how we can build a more equitable and healthier future for everyone.

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