This project uses time series analysis on a national sample of employed adults to assess differing explanations for the increasing inequality of incomes. Human capital and status attainment explanations focus on characteristics of individuals such as their education. This project compares those perspec- tives to effects produced by changes in the structure of jobs (e.g., movement towards a U.S. service economy, and movement of manufacturing to other countries) and wages (e.g., rapid creation of low-wage jobs). PI anticipates finding important, perhaps primary, effects of these structural changes. The project permits comparing predictions of all three perspectives. Out- comes of the research will contribute to sociological and econo- mic analysis of changes in income distribution. Applications of the information would include design of intervention programs either at the individual (e.g., training programs) or the struc- tural (e.g., international trade laws) levels. //
