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The Underclass in the United States: Some Correlates of Economic Change *
Author(s) -
Singh Vijai P.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.1991.tb00176.x
Subject(s) - underclass , restructuring , argument (complex analysis) , economic restructuring , polarization (electrochemistry) , census , sociology , political economy , development economics , political science , economics , demographic economics , economic growth , law , demography , population , biochemistry , chemistry
This paper analyzes the important manifestations of the underclass, outlines some differing positions on its origin and persistence, and lends further support to the argument of its link with the changing United States economy. The processes that produce and maintain the underclass are discussed along with their conflicting and converging interpretations. An analysis of the impact of industrial restructuring in the early 1980s shows that massive job losses affected blacks in the inner city areas much more severely than any other groups. The economic recovery that followed has not benefitted this group and, as a consequence, many census tract areas that were predominantly poor have become designated underclass. Consequences of the polarization of the labor force that has contributed to the isolation of inner city blacks from the economy is discussed, and recommendations are offered for solving this national problem.