Quandaries of Equality. US Wealth Distribution 2009.
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Transcript of Quandaries of Equality. US Wealth Distribution 2009.
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