Lifetime Earnings Differences across Black and White Individuals: Years Worked Matter

Glover, Andrew; Mustre-del-Rio, Jose; Pollard, Emily

doi:10.18651/ER/v108n1GloverMustredelRioPollard

Journal Article

Lifetime Earnings Differences across Black and White Individuals: Years Worked Matter

Abstract: In this article, Andrew Glover, José Mustre-del-Río, and Emily Pollard go beyond point-in-time measures of earnings and examine lifetime earnings differences between Black and white individuals. They find that, on average, Black individuals earn about one-third less than white individuals over the course of their lifetimes (a difference equivalent to about $550,000), though the size of this gap varies by sex and education level. In addition, they find that differences in years worked, which are not captured by point-in-time measures, contribute substantially to earnings differences between Black and white individuals.

Keywords: labor market; wages;

JEL Classification: J31; J3; J15;

https://doi.org/10.18651/ER/v108n1GloverMustredelRioPollard