Mehrsa Baradaran

Expertise:
Banking law, contracts, property, housing, inequality
Background:
Mehrsa Baradaran is a professor of law at UCI Law.
Previously, she was the Robert Cotten Alston Chair in Corporate Law and Associate Dean for strategic initiatives with a focus on diversity and inclusion efforts and national and international faculty scholarship recognition at the University of Georgia School of Law.
Baradaran writes about banking law, financial inclusion, inequality, and the racial wealth gap. Her scholarship includes the books How the Other Half Banks and The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap, both published by the Harvard University Press. The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap was awarded the Best Book of the Year by the Urban Affairs Association, the PROSE Award Honorable Mention in the Business, Finance & Management category. Baradaran was also selected as a finalist at the 2018 Georgia Author of the Year Awards for the book in the category of history/biography.
Baradaran has also published articles including "Jim Crow Credit" in the Irvine Law Review, "Regulation by Hypothetical" in the Vanderbilt Law Review, "It's Time for Postal Banking" in the Harvard Law Review Forum, "Banking and the Social Contract" in the Notre Dame Law Review, "How the Poor Got Cut Out of Banking" in the Emory Law Journal, "Reconsidering the Separation of Banking and Commerce" in the George Washington Law Review and "The ILC and the Reconstruction of U.S. Banking" in the SMU Law Review. Of note, her article "The New Deal with Black America" was selected for presentation at the 2017 Stanford/Harvard/Yale Junior Faculty Forum.
Baradaran and her books have received significant national and international media coverage and have been featured in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Slate, American Banker, the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times; on National Public Radio’s “Marketplace,” C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” and Public Broadcasting Service’s “NewsHour;” and as part of TEDxUGA. She has advised U.S. Senators and Congressmen on policy, testified before the U.S. Congress, and spoken at national and international forums like the U.S. Treasury and the World Bank.
She earned her bachelor's degree cum laude from Brigham Young University and her law degree cum laude from NYU, where she served as a member of the New York University Law Review.
(Log in to view full course descriptions in the UCI Law Course Catalog)
- The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap (Harvard Press) (2019)
- How the Other Half Banks: Exclusion, Exploitation and the Threat to Democracy (Harvard Press) (2015)
- Rethinking Financial Inclusion: Designing an Equitable System with Public Policy, Roosevelt Institute (2020)
- Banking on Democracy, 98 Washington University Law Review 353 (2020)
- Closing the Racial Wealth Gap, NYU Law Review (2020)
- Credit, Morality, and the Small-Dollar Loan, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review (2020)
- The Twenty First Century Homestead Act, The New Democracy Initiative, Roosevelt Institute (2019)
- Jim Crow Credit, 9 UC Irvine. L. Rev. 887 (2019)
- The New Deal and Black Banking Chapter
--Selected for the 2017 Stanford/Harvard/Yale Junior Faculty Forum - Regulation by Hypothetical, 67 Vand. L. Rev. 1247-1326 (2014)
--reprinted in the Corporate Practice Commentator and selected as the “10 Best Corporate and Securities Articles of the Year” - It’s Time for Postal Banking, 127 Harv. L. Rev. F. 165 (2014)
- Banking and the Social Contract, 89 Notre Dame L. Rev. 1283 (2014)
- How the Poor Got Cut out of Banking, 62 Emory L.J. 483 (2013)
- Reconsidering the Separation of Banking and Commerce, 80 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 385 (2012)
--Selected for 2011 C-LEAF Junior Faculty Scholarship FellowshipThe ILC and the Reconstruction of U.S. Banking, 62 SMU L. Rev. 1143 (2010)
- Feb. 10, 2022:
Featured Speaker, How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans – And How We Can Fix It, JFK Jr. Forum, Harvard Kennedy School, Online - Jan. 28, 2022:
Featured Speaker, The Color of Money: How Journalists Can Improve Their Coverage of the Racial Wealth Gap, Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, NYU, Online - Oct. 20, 2021:
Panelist, Racism and the Economy: Focus on the Wealth Divide, Racism and the Economy, District Banks of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, Online - Nov. 2020
Panelist, What’s Next? The State of the American Economy, L.A. Times Festival of Books, Online - Oct. 2020
Speaker, “Reflecting on the 1619 Project in 2020: The Long Legacy of Slavery and the Current State of Race, UCI Humanities Center, Online - Sept. 2020
Panelist, “Race Matters,” Teach-In on Racial Justice and the Law, Cincinnati Law, Online - June 2020
Testified before U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Virtual Hearing on Inclusive Banking During a Pandemic - July 2019
Presenter, The Color of Money, Economic Policy Institute, Washington, DC - April 2019
Testified before U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, Washington, DC - December 2018
Keynote Speaker, Money as a Democratic Medium conference, Harvard Law, Cambridge, MA
- BNN Bloomberg: With ‘Everybody Else’ Dead or Gone, One California Bank Thrives
- Just Money: Just Money conference at Harvard Law School, panel "Money and Empire: Past, Present, and the Future of the Dollar System"
- New York Magazine: Affirmative Action Never Had a Chance: The conservative backlash to the civil-rights era began immediately — and now it’s nearly complete.
- The Wall Street Journal: How the Supreme Court, Like the Fed, Reshapes Your Finances
- New York Times Magazine: The High Cost of Bad Credit
- Marketplace: How will banking change amid wreckage of SVB, First Republic?
- Vox: How crypto failed Black investors
- C-Span: Senate Hearing on Virtual Currencies and Online Marketplaces
- The New York Times: "Where $30 Billion to Fix Systemic Racism Actually Goes"
- Bloomberg Law: Prof. Baradaran quoted in Bloomberg Law on inclusion goals in fintech
- Marketplace: Prof. Baradaran quoted in Marketplace on how people of color and low-income people are likely to be unbanked or underbanked
- Crooked: Stuck with Damon Young: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses racial wealth gap and poverty heightens sense of money
- The American Prospect: Prof. Baradaran comments on the profit financial institutions receive in overdraft fees
- Smart Cities Dive: Prof. Baradaran is quoted on the origins of the racial wealth gap
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran comments on a U.S. central bank currency issued by the Treasury Department
- The American Prospect: Prof. Baradaran comments on the new reform bill reinforcing authority for postal banking
- Vox: Prof. Baradaran comments on banking fees associated with payment systems and services
- CNBC: Prof. Baradaran comments on less than 1% of all FDIC insured banks are Black-owned
- KQED: Prof. Baradaran highlighted for testifying before California's reparations task force
- Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran participates in the discussion “How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans – and How We Can Fix It” hosted by Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics
- CreditCards.com: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” highlighted for analysis on the racial wealth gap
- MarketWatch's Best New Ideas in Money: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses how postal banking could help provide services to unbanked and underbanked communities
- ProPublica: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Black-owned banks and her book “The Color of Money”
- Matter of Fact Listening Tour: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran discusses the impact of redlining and banking policy on the racial wealth gap
- Chron: Prof. Baradaran to be featured on “Matter of Fact Listening Tour” on race and equity
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran co-authored op-ed with Jeremy Kress: Your Pocketbook Is Ruled by This Agency, and It’s in the Middle of a Huge Fight
- Bloomberg: Prof. Baradaran quoted on how bank consolidation can impact low-income communities
- The Regulatory Review: Prof. Baradaran’s new research highlighted for analysis around credit, morality and small-dollar loans
- The Baffler: Prof. Baradaran quoted on the role of banks in issuing and processing PPP loans for small businesses
- 3 Things (with Ric Elias) LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses the history of the racial wealth gap and its impact today
- Los Angeles Sentinel: Prof. Baradaran featured for research on the racial wealth gap
- The Sacramento Observer: Prof. Baradaran quoted on research on the racial wealth gap and testimony at California Reparations Task Force hearing
- District Banks of the Federal Reserve System: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran participates in panel discussion "Race and the Economy: Focus on Wealth Divide"
- ABC7: Prof. Baradaran testified at California’s Reparations Task Force hearing on Anti-Black racism in housing and education policy, the racial wealth gap and discrimination in banking
- California Department of Justice: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran testifies at California Reparations Task Force hearing
- KQED: Prof. Baradaran to testify at California Reparations Task Force hearing
- Fast Company: Prof. Baradaran comments on USPS postal banking pilot
- Wired: Prof. Baradaran comments on Black-owned banks, corporate philanthropy to help Black businesses, and the racial wealth gap
- Daily Kos: Prof. Baradaran quoted on U.S. Postal Service postal banking pilot program
- American Prospect: Prof. Baradaran quoted on USPS postal banking pilot program
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran quoted on the racial wealth gap and financial security
- Bloomberg Markets: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran discusses corporate philanthropy, the racial wealth gap, and the cost of inequality
- MarketWatch: Prof. Baradaran quoted on corporate financial pledges to curb racial injustice and the racial wealth gap
- Washington Post: Prof. Baradaran quoted on the racial wealth gap, corporate philanthropy, and policy change
- Yes Magazine: Prof. Baradaran quoted on her book “How the Other Half Banks” and banking policies and regulations
- Karen Hunter Show: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran discusses her book “The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap”
- U.S. House Committee on Financial Services: Prof. Baradaran testified at the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee hearing on banking the unbanked
- ProMarket: Prof. Baradaran: How Protests Against the Jim Crow Credit Market Changed the Civil Rights Movement
- MarketWatch: Prof. Baradaran comments on the Tulsa Race Massacre, Black businesses, and the racial wealth gap
- TaxProf Blog: Prof. Baradaran highlighted for testifying at U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee hearing on the racial wealth gap
- U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran testifies at virtual congressional committee hearing on racial wealth gap
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran quoted on the racial wealth gap
- Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses banking, inequality, and the racial wealth gap
- TechCrunch: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” named among best books for 2020 recommended by COO of Urban Us
- Roll Call: Prof. Baradaran featured for role on Biden transition team
- Intel IT Peer Network: Prof. Baradaran’s paper “Jim Crow Credit” highlighted for research into historical inequalities in banking and borrowing
- Coindesk: Prof. Baradaran highlighted for role on Biden’s financial oversight transition team and her expertise in banking law and financial inclusion
- Law.com: Prof. Baradaran highlighted for role on Biden transition teams
- Reuters: Prof. Baradaran highlighted for role on Biden transition team and her research on racial inequities in banking
- Wall Street Journal: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Black-owned banks and Black entrepreneurialism
- The Regulatory Review: Prof. Baradaran and UCI Law 2L C. Dylan Durham write op-ed calling for a new oversight agency to monitor the Federal Reserve’s effort to reduce racial inequality
- MarketWatch: Prof. Baradaran discusses her book “The Color of Money” and her research on the racial wealth gap
- UCI Humanities Center: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran participates in panel discussion on “Financial Legacies: Slavery and the History of Banking”
- Center for American Progress: Prof. Baradaran co-writes article on structural inequity and benefits of postal banking system
- Vox’s Who We Are Podcast: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses how discriminatory housing policies, unequal access to credit and predatory banking contribute to the racial wealth gap
- Huff Post: Prof. Baradaran quoted on backlash over Wells Fargo CEO’s memo on diversity and hiring practices
- Spectacular Failures Podcast: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses racial disparities in housing and mortgage loans
- Orange Coast Magazine: Dean Richardson, Prof. Baradaran, Prof. Goodwin and UC Irvine Law Review executive board highlighted among ‘35 Kickass Women in O.C.’
- CNBC: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran discusses the racial wealth gap and the legacy of exclusion and inequality in the U.S.
- MarketWatch: Prof. Baradaran quoted on caregiving work and the need to increase resources to underbanked communities
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Heather Boushey’s role as an economic advisor to Joe Biden
- Los Angeles Times: Prof. Baradaran quoted on merger of two Black-led banks, racial inequality and the racial wealth gap
- American Banker: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses postal banking and financial inclusion –
- Vox: Prof. Baradaran quoted on financial deregulation
- American Banker: Prof. Baradaran quoted on the impact of proposed bank mergers on low-income and minority communities
- Fast Company: Prof. Baradaran quoted on JPMorgan Chase postal banking pilot and antitrust laws
- American Banker: Prof. Baradaran quoted on potential JPMorgan Chase partnership with USPS
- Fortune: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” cited for her description of how institutionalized racism reinforced cycles of segregation and poverty
- Bloomberg: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Harris’s track record with Wall Street, Biden’s economic agenda
- Los Angeles Times: Prof. Baradaran quoted on the CARES Act restrictions tied to small-business loans
- Chicago Booth Review: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” highlighted for analysis of the Freedman’s Bank
- Forbes: Prof. Baradaran highlighted for House Committee on Financial Services hearing testimony on FedAccounts
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” highlighted for examination of how racist laws and policies contributed to the racial wealth gap and racial injustice
- Bloomberg: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Black banks and structural racism
- Bloomberg TV: Prof. Baradaran discusses what effect the Fed has on racial economic inequality
- Mother Jones: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Biden’s racial equity economic recovery plan
- Quartz: Prof. Baradaran comments on public policy, banks, consumer loans and reparations
- BBC: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Black banks, reparations and closing the racial wealth gap
- Huff Post: Prof. Baradaran quoted on benefits of a postal banking system
- UCI Law: UCI Law Professor of Law Mehrsa Baradaran Named Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Reuters: Prof. Baradaran quoted on what the Fed can do to combat economic inequality
- PBS Amanpour and Company: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran discusses her book “The Color of Money,” the racial wealth gap, and structural racism
- BBC World: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses devaluation of properties in Black communities and the need for systemic foundational change, public banking systems and reparations
- Yahoo Money: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran discusses the racial wealth gap in the U.S.
- Ms. Magazine: Prof. Baradaran interviewed on her book “The Color of Money,” the racial wealth gap and public banking
- The Indicator: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses the racial wealth gap and the importance of Black banks
- CNN Business: Prof. Baradaran comments on the racial wealth gap and how economic recession impacts ecosystem of opportunities
- Forbes: Prof. Baradaran quoted on flaws related to administering PPP loans
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran writes op-ed on the private equity industry, neoliberal ideology, and the myth of free markets
- MarketPlace: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses Netflix’s move to deposit $100M in Black-owned banks
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran’s book ‘The Color of Money’ inspires Netflix’s move to shift $100M into financial institutions, organizations that support Black communities
- Netflix: Prof. Baradaran credited for inspiration behind Netflix’s decision to move $100M to financial institutions focused on supporting Black communities
- MarketWatch: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Jim Crow credit, student loans
- American Banker: Prof. Baradaran quoted on unlikely regulation in the financial system
- Forbes: Prof. Baradaran highlighted for testimony on FedAccounts and postal banking
- Roll Call: Prof. Baradaran quoted on concerns over digital payment solutions to deliver COVID-19 federal aid
- MarketWatch: Prof. Baradaran quoted on how the Tulsa Race Massacre impacted black businesses across the country
- American Prospect: Prof. Baradaran writes on nationwide protests, redlining and racial wealth gap
- MarketPlace: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran comments on PPP loans and the CARES Act
- Pymnts.com: Prof. Baradaran’s U.S. House Financial Services hearing testimony on postal banking highlighted
- FCW: Prof. Baradaran testifies on postal banking services at U.S. House Financial Services Committee hearing
- ProMarket: Prof. Baradaran interviewed on current protests, COVID-19, the racial wealth gap, and her book “The Color of Money”
- Equitable Growth: Q&A with Prof. Baradaran on racial wealth gap, financial inclusion and public policymaking
- UCI Law: UCI Law Professor of Law Mehrsa Baradaran to Testify Before US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services
- 1A: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses corporate social justice and activism
- Forbes: Prof. Baradaran to testify at House Financial Services Committee hearing on inclusive banking and digital tools to deliver stimulus payments
- Huff Post: Q&A interview with Prof. Baradaran on systemic racism in the U.S., reparations, and her book “The Color of Money”
- Huffington Post: Prof. Baradaran quoted on the racial wealth gap
- Morning Brew: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” featured in Brew’s Bookshelf
- The Hill: Prof. Baradaran quoted on economic impact of discrimination
- Forbes: Prof. Baradaran quoted on the role of banks in facilitating financial assistance to small businesses affected by COVID-19
- Salon: Prof. Baradaran quoted on flaws associated with small business coronavirus relief loans
- Austin Weekly News: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” highlighted for analysis of the Freedmen’s bill and the Jim Crow credit market
- Just Money: Prof. Baradaran: How the Right Used Free Market Capitalism Against the Civil Rights Movement
- Inc.: Prof. Baradaran quoted on flaws of the PPP loan program
- Vox: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” cited for explanation of black-owned businesses’ difficulties accessing government funds
- NBC News: Prof. Baradaran quoted on structural flaws, credit disparities in PPP loan program
- WHCU Radio: Prof. Baradaran quoted on postal banking and financial inclusion
- Mashable: Prof. Baradaran discusses politics and myths surrounding history of government aid policies
- Mother Jones: Prof. Baradaran quoted coronavirus relief loans, black businesses and racial inequality
- Macro Musings: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses how COVID-19 is exposing societal wealth gaps and financial assistance challenges
- WBUR On Point: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses federal coronavirus relief funds and small businesses
- NBC News: Prof. Baradaran quoted on structural flaw in small-business loan program
- American Banker: Prof. Baradaran comments on small-business loan program
- The Bottom Line: Prof. Baradaran comments on how the Federal Reserve could offer financial relief through the municipal bond market
- The American Prospect: Prof. Baradaran writes on lessons learned from the coronavirus outbreak
- Bloomberg Tax: WATCH: Prof. Baradaran discusses how opportunity zone investments work
- Forbes: Prof. Baradaran’s book “The Color of Money” highlighted for statistics on the racial wealth gap
- Jacksonville Free Press: Prof. Baradaran quoted on how segregation patterns impacted black entrepreneurs
- Pitchfork Economics: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses the costs of banking while poor and payday lending
- Forbes: Prof. Baradaran quoted on racial discrimination, segregation, and black entrepreneurism
- American Banker: Prof. Baradaran comments on lack of banks in rural areas
- American Banker: Prof. Baradaran quoted on regulation of big tech and financial services
- NPR Weekend Edition: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses inaccessibility issues related to college admissions
- Marketplace: Prof. Baradaran comments on how bank branch closures affect rural areas
- New Yorker: Prof. Baradaran calls for 21st Century Homestead Act to help remedy the racial wealth gap
- CNN Business: Prof. Baradaran quoted on concerns over Facebook’s Libra currency
- City Lab: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Jim Crow credit and redlining
- Fast Company: Prof. Baradaran discusses proposal to let the U.S. Postal Service provide basic banking services
- CNN Business: Prof. Baradaran quoted on loss of support of Facebook’s Libra
- Roosevelt Forward: Prof. Baradaran joins Roosevelt Institute as a fellow
- CNN Business: Prof. Baradaran quoted on Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency and regulation
- The American Prospect: Prof. Baradaran comments on postal banking
- Fortune: Prof. Baradaran comments on how cashless businesses impact low-income people
- City Lab: Prof. Baradaran quoted on FHA home loans, Jim Crow credit, and racial wealth gap
- The Real News Network: LISTEN: Prof. Baradaran discusses how housing policy has contributed to the racial wealth gap
- New York Times Magazine: Prof. Baradaran writes on the history of slavery, banks, currency and commodity markets in the U.S.
- American Banker: Prof. Baradaran quoted on cryptocurrency policy problems
- Roll Call: Prof. Baradaran discusses blockchain and regulation of digital assets
- Pymnts.com: Prof. Baradaran testifies at Senate hearing on cryptocurrency, oversight
- CityLab: Prof. Baradaran discusses “Homestead Act for the 21st Century,” federal housing policy
- UCI Law: Prof. Baradaran Testifies Before Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
- Yahoo Finance: Prof. Baradaran to testify at Senate Banking Committee hearing on cryptocurrencies and blockchain
- Wall Street Journal: Prof. Baradaran profile
- New York Times: Prof. Baradaran op-ed: The Real Roots of 'Black Capitalism'
- PBS Newshour TV Interview: Prof. Baradaran interviewed on Morehouse College gift