Rhea Myerscough

Welcome and hello.

I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. I received my PhD from the Travers Department of Political Science at UC Berkeley.

My work examines inequality in the United States through the lens of the racial wealth gap. Racial groups have qualitatively distinct experiences of the economy, due in part to wealth disparities. My research analyzes how these distinct experiences shape public policy, interest group politics, and public opinion in American politics.

My current book project, Regulating the predatory economy: inequality, policy, and organized interests, asks when, why, and how states regulate predatory markets, like payday lending, that provide necessary goods at exploitative terms to communities and households in precarious financial situations. A related project addresses how the racial wealth gap shapes public opinion on legislative solutions to financial insecurity, such as guaranteed income policies.

Prior to my training as an academic researcher, I worked in academic administration, in defense policy, and in a lot of service industry jobs. 

Questions? Requests? Interested in thinking together? Email me at rmyerscough <at> butler <dot> edu.

To view my CV, click here.