US Wealth Distribution 2009

Economic Inequality – GINI Coefficients (CIA 2009)

Social Mobility/Income Inequality

Homicide and Income Inequality

Fishkin's TrilemmaThree ideals–Equality of life chances–Merit–Family autonomy

People in unequal family conditions have unequal resources/abilities

Thus we can satisfy two, but not all three, of these principles

Equality of life chances

The prospects of children for eventual social positions should not significantly vary because of arbitrary native characteristics.

Alternative to equality of results, still may require some “affirmative action” to provide basic resources for children of poor families.

Merit

Insistence on procedural fairness in the evaluation of qualifications for positions and access to benefits

Assumes possibility of measuring qualifications in reasonably equitable and uniform manner

Autonomy of the Family

Parents have autonomy in raising their children, unless parents harm or hamper them for adult participation in society

State cannot insist that parents follow best practices for children’s education or socialization

Possible Resolutions of TrilemmaReduce family autonomy – greater

social/state role in child rearingAdopt affirmative action – reduce role

of merit in admissions, hiring, promotion

Accept greater inequality - disadvantaged children will be penalized for their bad luck

Compromises

Encourage family autonomy, but supplement with universal education

Implement affirmative action, but do so in early development, e.g., head start programs

Black CodesFormer slaves were “forbidden to appear in

the towns in any other character than menial servants. They were required to reside on and cultivate the soil without the right to purchase or own it. There were excluded from many occupations of gain, and were not permitted to give testimony in the courts in any case where a white man was a party.”

Slaughterhouse Cases (1872)

Barriers to Voting for African-Americans

literacy requirements poll taxes discretionary registration

rules “grandfather” waivers single race primary elections

Economic Barriers for African-Americans

lack of access to capital or landlimited skills and literacy

significant intimidation, includingvagrancy laws

licensing procedures excluding blacks

Social Discrimination against African-Americans

Laws Prohibiting Intermarriage

Use of Separate FacilitiesResidential SegregationSchool Segregation

Griggs v. Duke Power (1971)Discrimination by Design

v. Disparate Impact

Duke had segregated plant until 1964 Civil Rights Act, African-Americans only worked in labor dept

Following CRA, Duke requires HS degree or passage of aptitude test for any position, including truck driving, outside Labor Dept.

Griggs v. Duke Power (1971)

Results of Segregated Education % of NC male high school grads, 1966

Black Men: 12% White Men: 34%

Applicants who passed aptitude test Black Men: 6 % White Men: 58%

Do African-Americans have an equal chance as whites in being hired for a

job for which they are qualified?

1963 2011Whites 41% 78%

African Americans 23% 39%

USA Today/Gallup Poll, 8/17/2011

Are new civil rights laws needed to reduce discrimination against blacks?

1993 2011

Total (all races) 38% 21%Whites 33% 15%Blacks 70% 52%USA Today/Gallup Poll, 8/17/2011

Should the government have a ____ in improving the social/economic position

of blacks and other minority groups?Major Role

Minor Role

No role

Total 27% 46% 26%Whites 19% 50% 30%Blacks 59% 32% 8%

USA Today/Gallup Poll, 8/17/2011