Wealth Inequality in the “Land of the Fee”: A Conversation with Devin Fergus

Abstract

In this essay, I explore the linkages between my research and that of Professor Devin Fergus, who presented research from his upcoming book, Land of the Fee, at UC Berkeley this past year. Both Professor Fergus and I are concerned with the ways in which practices in the financial services industry contribute to the racial wealth gap and close off historical routes to economic mobility. The essay provides a brief overview of Professor Fergus’s talk and sets it into conversation with my own work on disparities in access to mortgage credit as a lens through which to view the wealth implications of living in the land of the fee. I also highlight some emerging practices in San Francisco that attempt to stem the rise of abusive financial services and help lower-income families and families of color build assets.