Inequality and Economic Stratification: Reflections on Bromley, Piketty, and Obeng-Odoom

Abstract

The rise of economic inequality is a major global problem, one that economists have an important role in explaining and addressing through policy. Despite increased availability of data, our theoretical understanding of the dynamics of inequality, its persistence, and policies to address this problem remain in their infancy. The new subfield of stratification economics focuses on intergroup inequality by race and gender and offers a useful lens through which to explore the complexity of interacting systems of inequality. This article evaluates three recently published books on inequality through that lens.

Keywords:

• Inequality
• stratification economics
• intergroup inequality
• race
• gender

Notes

1 This is consistent with Darity et al (2006) who develop an evolutionary game theory model in which racial identity and inter-racial disparities are malleable, depending on a variety of social and economic forces.

2 Norms are informal rules of behavior that, if violated, lead to social disapprobation of some kind. For example, in some countries, racial norms suggest that racial/ethnic subordinate groups should “keep their place,” that is, not aspire to positions of power. A gender norm is that responsibility for children belongs primarily to women. Stereotypes are generalizations about people based on their group membership that may or may not be true. As an example, the notion that women are more emotional than men (and thus less fit for public office) is a gender stereotype.

3 The alliance between the Republican Reagan administration and evangelical groups that opposed women’s reproductive choice is an example of how economic elites can use patriarchal social institutions that limit women’s well-being as a vehicle to enact inegalitarian economic policies.