Stratification economics: The role of intergroup inequality

This paper proposes that the emergence of stratification economics constitutes a systematic and empirically grounded -- rather than an anecdotally grounded -- alternative to the conventional wisdom on intergroup disparity. Stratification economics examines the structural and intentional processes ge...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economics and finance 2005-07, Vol.29 (2), p.144-153
Main Author: Darity, William
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
20th century
African Americans
Consumer behavior
Consumers
Determinism
Earnings
Economics
Economists
Education
Group dynamics
Inequality
Minority & ethnic groups
Noncitizens
Racial discrimination
Social structure
Wealth distribution
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Summary:This paper proposes that the emergence of stratification economics constitutes a systematic and empirically grounded -- rather than an anecdotally grounded -- alternative to the conventional wisdom on intergroup disparity. Stratification economics examines the structural and intentional processes generating hierarchy and, correspondingly, income and wealth inequality between ascriptively distinguished groups. By dint of hard work, commitment to the value of education, acceptance of delayed gratification, and a cultural orientation toward achievement, each new wave of ethnic immigrants would ride to the top of the urban escalator. Thus, the master narrative stands as a paean to the possibility of upward mobility open to all who come to America. For the stratification economist, the master narrative is false. The master narrative evades the race question by obliterating differences in ethnic group outcomes among early 20th century immigrants by subsuming all under the banner of Americans as whites.
ISSN:1055-0925
1938-9744
DOI:10.1007/BF02761550