Max Besbris

Max Besbris is Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research examines how individuals make decisions in economic markets, how these decisions are affected by social interactions, and their impact on racial and socio-spatial inequalities, with particular focus on housing, neighborhoods, and the effects of climate change on real estate values and residential decision-making.

Education: Ph.D. in Sociology from New York University (2017).

Research interests span multiple sociological domains:

• Communities and Urban Sociology: Studies how neighborhood dynamics shape social outcomes
• Demography and Ecology: Analyzes population patterns and environmental interactions
• Economic Sociology: Investigates social dimensions of economic transactions
• Social Stratification: Examines systems of inequality and mobility
• Climate Change Impacts: Focuses on environmental effects on housing markets

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on housing markets, neighborhood effects, and inequality mechanisms. The research shows strong thematic convergence around rental market dynamics, disaster impacts on housing, segregation mechanisms, and market intermediaries. Spatial inequality and discrimination emerge as persistent concerns across multiple studies.

Dr. Besbris holds affiliations with several university research centers including the Center for Demography and Ecology, Center for Financial Security, and Institute for Research on Poverty.