economic statistics (as if people mattered)

[Carrol Cox]

The studies I have seen of this are 30 years old, but they suggested that the
*greater* the disparity of  "wages" between black and white workers, the
*lower* the pay of *both*. (I put wages into quotes because the studies I read
tried to focus on total conditons -- i.e. take into consideration public
education, available housing etc.) Crudely put -- white workers were (are) much
better off in the north (where inequality is less) than white workers in the
south (where inequality was greater). Since I don't remember my sources I can't
argue for this. Are there any recent studies?

Carrol

snit wrote:


> i think i made clear that i don't actually think everything is hunky
> dory.  if blacks have gained it is not at the expense of whites.  if blacks
> have gained, it is likely because of the effects of a tight labor market
> which will raise people's incomes and that rise will *look* like a lot more
> because they started out so low to begin with.  AND, if you look at the
> actual numbers (at EPI, max's joint) then you can see that by no means have
> blacks' income achieved parity with whites.
>
> for evidence re doug's claims about underreporting, see kathryn edin's
> stuff --she has a good piece at the american prospect, i believe.
>
> kelley