Social inclusion research explores the capacity of individuals and households to participate in economic and social life. It is particularly concerned with barriers to participation arising from a lack of material resources.

Equality research in the ESRI investigates inequalities in opportunities and in outcomes, exploring the processes that lead to inequality. The research has a strong policy focus, assessing the role of public policies in underpinning or reducing inequalities.

Recent research projects have examined the impact of the recession on equality in the labour market; how debt and financial exclusion affect people’s ability to participate in society; the extent to which poverty persists over time; the circumstances of persons with an emotional, psychological or mental health disability; the link between work and poverty, employment of people with a disability (drawing on the National Disability Survey) , parental expectations of children with a disability (drawing on the Growing Up in Ireland survey), and the extent to which children are exposed to deprivation.