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Differences in Wage Levels Among Metropolitan Areas: Less-educated Workers in the United States

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  • Todd Easton
  • Mary King

Abstract

EASTON T. and KING M. C. (2000) Differences in wage levels among metropolitan areas: less-educated workers in the United States, Reg. Studies 34, 21-27. This work investigates the causes of low wages for workers with a high school education or less in the US, using a sample of 241 metropolitan areas drawn from the 1990 Census. It examines the influence of five labour market characteristics on between-metropolitan area wage differences: labour demand, the minimum wage, unionization, industry mix and the race/gender composition of the labour force. The first four factors seem to affect both men's and women's wages, but the relative importance differs. For example, the evidence suggests that unionization is the most important influence on men's wages, while for women industry mix matters most. EASTON T. et KING M. C. (2000) Des ecarts de salaire dans les zones metropolitaines: les salaries moins instruits aux Etats-Unis, Reg. Studies 34, 21-27. A partir d'un echantillon de 241 zones metropolitaines tirees du recensement de 1990, cet article cherche a etudier les causes des bas salaires des travailleurs aux Etats-Unis dont le niveau d'education ne va pas au-dela du secondaire. On examine l'influence de cinq caracteristiques du marche du travail sur les ecarts de salaire par zone metropolitaine: a savoir, offres d'emploi, salaire minimum, syndicalisation, structure industrielle, distribution de la main-d'oeuvre par nationalite et par sexe. Il semble que les quatre premiers facteurs influent sur les salaires et des hommes et des femmes, mais l'importance relative differe. Par exemple, les preuves laissent supposer que la syndicalisation s'avere l'influence la plus importante sur les salaires des hommes alors que, pour ce qui est des femmes, c'est la structure industrielle qui est le plus important. EASTON T. und KING M. C. (2000) Unterschiedliche Lohnhohen in Grossstadtgebieten: ungebildete Arbeiter in den Vereinigten Staaten, Reg. Studies 34, 21-27. Diese Arbeit untersucht die Ursachen der niedrigen Lohne fur Arbeiter mit Oberschulabschluss oder weniger in den Vereinigten Staaten mittels Stichproben von 241 Grossstadtgebieten, die der Volkszahlung des Jahres 1990 entnommen wurden. Sie pruft den Einfluss von den funf Arbeitsplatzmerkmalen: Stellennachfrage, Mindestlohn, gewerkschaftlicher Organisation, Industriemischung und Zusammensetzung der Arbeitnehmer nach Rasse und Geschlecht auf Lohnunterschiede in Grossstadten. Die vier erstgenannten Faktoren scheinen sich auf Lohne von Mannern und Frauen auszuwirken, doch die relative Bedeutung ist unterschiedlich. Die Befunde legen z.B. nahe, dass die gewerkschaftliche Organisation die Lohne der Manner am starksten beeinflusst, wahrend fur Frauen die Mischung der vorhandenen Industrien am wichtigsten ist.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd Easton & Mary King, 2000. "Differences in Wage Levels Among Metropolitan Areas: Less-educated Workers in the United States," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 21-27.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:34:y:2000:i:1:p:21-27
    DOI: 10.1080/00343400050005853
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    2. Easton, Todd, 2001. "Immigration and Natives' Wages: Understanding Their Correlation in the 1980s," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 31(3), pages 219-235, Winter.

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