Economic inequality arises from disparities in income, wealth, and economic resources within a given population, such as countries, regions, or cities. Economic inequality may be considered legitimate if it results from individuals exercising their freedoms, and it can even be desirable if it fosters incentives and motivation. However, it is less clear whether inequalities linked to an individual's background, or more broadly to innate characteristics or those formed early in life (such as during childhood, schooling, or entry into the labor market), should be deemed equally fair or desirable.

The economic and sociological literature emphasizes that the study of economic inequalities must also consider how opportunities to achieve these economic outcomes are distributed, as well as the presence of opportunity gaps within the economy.

The Living Conditions Department adopts a research-driven approach to analyzing the increasingly accessible big data in social sciences (such as large-scale surveys and administrative data), aiming to identify the unequal distribution of opportunities across populations and assess the effectiveness of public interventions in addressing inequality of opportunity. The department investigates how such disparities in opportunity influence individual well-being as well as societal cohesion and inclusiveness. To this end, the Living Conditions Department is dedicated to advancing innovative research and developing data-driven tools that support informed decision-making.