Thursday, September 1, 2011

Williams - Only One Explanation

As early as 1890, the duration of unemployment among blacks was shorter than it was among whites, whereas today unemployment is both higher and longer-lasting among blacks than among whites.
How might one explain yesteryear's lower black unemployment and greater labor force participation? The usual academic, civil rights or media racial discrimination explanation for black/white socioeconomic differences just wouldn't hold up.
I can't imagine even the most harebrained professor, civil rights leader or media "expert" arguing that there was less discrimination a century ago and that explains why there was greater black labor market participation. Racial discrimination or low skills can explain low wages, but not unemployment.


Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2011/08/why-minimum-wage-keeps-blacks-jobless#ixzz1WhwEBEAG

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