Earnings Differentials between Black, Mexican American, and Non-Hispanic White Male Workers: On the Cost of Being a Minority Worker, 1972-1987.

This article estimates an earnings function among black, Mexican American, and non-Hispanic white male full- time year-round workers from 1972 to 1987, using data from the March 1973, 1978, 1983, and 1988 Current Population Surveys. In addition, it attempts to address the larger question of whether the economic position of minorities has declined, remained the same, or improved over the period 1972 to 1987. Results from the analysis suggest that the economic position of black and Mexican American full-time year-round male workers remained about the same from 1972 to 1987. It was found that non-Hispanic white male workers realized greater marginal returns to their human capital and, therefore, earned more than either black or Mexican American workers in all years (1972 to 1987) covered in this study. Moreover, though the earnings gap declined in the period covered, substantial earnings differentials persisted and failed to mirror the narrowing in human capital among the three ethnic racial groups.