Publication

This paper focuses on trends in racial/ethnic disparities in employment, earnings and family income in the US over the last quarter of the 20th century. It also reviews several areas in which persisting racial inequalities affect life chances. These include racial disparities in wealth, perceptions of racial inequalities affecting emotional well-being, perceptions of racial discrimination and views on racial integration. In addition, it offers a public policy agenda for reducing racial/ethnic economic disparities. The paper finds that the US remains divided along racial and class lines despite the emergence of African-American and Hispanic economic elites.