Social Class and Occupations

The labor market of contemporary societies is rife with "social classes" that take the form of occupations (e.g., architect, carpenter) or aggregates of occupations (e.g., professional, craft worker). The main task of the class analyst is to understand whether such classes are (a) becoming more or less well-formed in the labor market, and (b) becoming increasingly consequential for behaviors of all kind (e.g., voting, leisure).

Trends in class formation

Is the takeoff in earnings inequality occurring because some occupations are doing especially well (e.g., managers, lawyers) while others are becoming ever poorer (e.g., fast-food workers)? Or is earnings inequality increasing because, within each occupation, the income of some workers is taking off and the income of other workers is lagging? Are workers now committing themselves to the same occupation for their entire life? Or do they increasingly move from one occupation to another?

Effects of class membership

Do professionals vote differently than blue-collar workers? Do they spend their leisure time differently? Do they raise their children in ways that prepare them more successfully for school and subsequent labor market success?