Understanding Black-White Disparities in Labor Market Outcomes Requires Models That Account for Persistent Discrimination and Unequal Bargaining Power

Disparities in labor market outcomes between Black and White Americans

Yongoh Moon

Source: Wilson, Valerie, and William Darity. “Understanding Black-White Disparities in Labor Market Outcomes Requires Models That Account for Persistent Discrimination and Unequal Bargaining Power.” Economic Policy Institute, 25 Mar. 2022, www.epi.org/unequalpower/publications/understanding-black-white-disparities-in-labor-market-outcomes/.

Annotated Bibliography

The report "Understanding Black-White Disparities in Labor Market Outcomes" by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) analyzes the differences in employment and wages between Black and White workers in the U.S. job market. It emphasizes that these disparities cannot be explained simply by differences in education and skills. The authors argue that structural discrimination and institutional barriers maintain these gaps. They consider factors like education, job types, industry, and geographic distribution to highlight that this discrimination is not due to personal choices or lack of ability. The report shows that even with the same education level, Black workers earn less than their White counterparts, indicating clear racial discrimination in the labor market. It calls for policy interventions to address these disparities, such as increasing wage transparency, strengthening labor unions, and ensuring fair hiring practices. This report is a valuable resource for studies using Critical Race Theory (CRT) to analyze economic inequality and offers insights and solutions to promote fairness and reduce racial disparities in the workforce. The visual data effectively illustrates economic inequalities, making it essential for advocating for social justice and economic equity. The report also discusses the impact of historical and ongoing discrimination, suggesting that addressing these issues requires comprehensive and sustained efforts, including changes in public policy and organizational practices. This makes it a crucial document for understanding and addressing the systemic roots of economic inequality between Black and White workers in the United States.