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Earnings inequality and subnational political economy in the United States, 1970-2000.
- Source :
- Research in Social Stratification & Mobility; Jun2010, Vol. 28 Issue 2, p251-273, 23p
- Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Previous studies of rising inequality in the United States have overlooked the potential role of subnational political economic variation as an institution that shapes earnings restructuring. This paper uses hierarchical linear models to examine how state right-to-work laws contribute to growth in inequality in 80 metropolitan labor markets from 1970 to 2000. Contrary to conventional expectations, labor markets in states with right-to-work laws experience relatively mild growth in earnings inequality, and are less unequal by 2000 than non-RTW labor markets. The trend cannot be fully explained by union density, job growth, uneven development or variation in racial inequality. The findings contribute to a distinctly sociological perspective on rising inequality that considers how social, institutional and economic factors interact at the local and state levels to shape earnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- POLITICAL economic analysis
UNITED States economy
WAGES
SOCIOECONOMICS
LABOR market
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02765624
- Volume :
- 28
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Research in Social Stratification & Mobility
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 69648569
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2010.03.004