Black-White Differences in Consumption: An Update and Some Policy Implications

Betsey, Charles L.

doi:10.1007/s12114-014-9187-9

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…These diminished returns may be a result of being victimized and stigmatized over generations. Some of the minorities may feel some pressure to appear strong, wealthy, and successful [77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87], which may have an impact on their children. Instead of individual behaviors, choices, and preferences contributing to success, it is the US social structure that can cause MDR [22,23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Income at Birth and Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at Age 15: Racial Differences

2019

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Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) resources protect children and adults against the risk of medical and psychiatric conditions. According to the Minorities’ Diminished Returns theory, however, such protective effects are systemically weaker for the members of racial and ethnic minority groups compared to Whites. Aims: Using a national data set with 15 years of follow up, we compared Black and White youth for the effects of family SES at birth on the risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at age 15. Methods: The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS, 1998–2016) is a longitudinal prospective study of urban youth from birth to age 15. This analysis included 2006 youth who were either White (n = 360) or Black (n = 1646). The independent variable was family income, the dependent variable was ADHD at age 15. Child gender, maternal age, and family type at birth were covariates, and race was the focal moderator. We ran logistic regressions in the overall sample and specific to race. Results: In the overall sample, high family income at birth was not associated with the risk of ADHD at age 15, independent of all covariates. Despite this relationship, we found a significant interaction between race and family income at birth on subsequent risk of ADHD, indicating a stronger effect for Whites compared to Blacks. In stratified models, we found a marginally significant protective effect of family SES against the risk of ADHD for White youths. For African American youth, on the other hand, family SES was shown to have a marginally significant risk for ADHD. Conclusions: The health gain that follows family income is smaller for Black than White families, which is in line with the Minorities’ Diminished Returns. The solution to health disparities is not simply policies that aim to reduce the racial gap in SES, because various racial health disparities in the United States are not due to differential access to resources but rather the impact of these resources on health outcomes. Public policies, therefore, should go beyond equalizing access to resources and also address the structural racism and discrimination that impact Blacks’ lives. Policies should fight racism and should help Black families to overcome barriers in their lives so they can gain health from their SES and social mobility. As racism is multi-level, multi-level interventions are needed to tackle diminished returns of SES.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Income at Birth and Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at Age 15: Racial Differences

2019

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“…The agency that advocated for the Black business progress the most was the Division of Negro Affairs in the Department of Commerce. First headed by James A. Jackson (1927)(1928)(1929)(1930)(1931)(1932)(1933), succeeded by the NUL's Eugene Kinckle Jones (1933)(1934)(1935)(1936)(1937) and then Charles Hall (1937)(1938), the Division produced a number of initiatives to analyze and promote Black business (Armfield 2012;Betsey 2014). Houchins authored at least two of the more important studies (presented here), and laid the foundation for ongoing surveys and technical support to Black business by the Division of Negro Affairs during the subsequent decade.…”

Section: From Roosevelt and The Black Cabinet To Dwight Eisenhowermentioning

confidence: 99%

Black Progress through Business Improvement: Two Articles by Joseph R. Houchins, 1900–1989

Green

Houchins

2017

The Review of Black Political Economy

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In the spirit of further expanding the heretofore unsung contributions of African American economists, we present two unpublished works from the 1930s of Joseph Roosevelt Houchins. They focus on Black business development and strategy. Biographical information and historical context for Houchins's life experiences during the twentieth century are included in an introduction. Houchins was a member of President Franklin Roosevelt's Black Cabinet, a leader of the Division of Negro Affairs in the U.S. Department of Commerce, and a chair and professor of economics at Howard University. These two writings reflect a strategic effort to strengthen the efficiency and impact of Black business as an engine of Black progress. The first document presented here analyzes the high failure rate of Black-owned insurance companies, a mainstay of Black business especially in the 1920s and 30s. Houchins determined that their failure was due to several factors: lack of business knowledge; lack of access to capital; a tendency towards over-expenditure on office furnishings; and an over-identification with the clients, paying unjustified claims and failing to collect premiums on policies. The second document reports the results of a national survey that Houchins conducted to create a complete listing of Black chambers of commerce that could be used for intra-racial communication and mutual support. Both documents resonate today as the struggle for Black progress continues.

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“…In terms of consumption, black s spend less on food and less on housing than their white peers (Betsey, 2014 ). They allocate larger proportions of their income for clothing.…”

Section: Income Consumption Savings and Debtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They allocate larger proportions of their income for clothing. Although popular culture suggests higher conspicuous consumption among blacks compared to whites, the literature suggests that blacks spend more on non-automobile transportation and less on automobile transportation (Betsey, 2014 ). Blacks own fewer automobiles and among comparable bl ack and white auto owners, there is no difference in the value of automobiles owned, the price class of the cars, or the likelihood of new or used car ownership (Betsey, 2014 ).…”

Section: Income Consumption Savings and Debtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Financial Issues of African Americans

Anong

2016

Handbook of Consumer Finance Research

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Black-White Differences in Consumption: An Update and Some Policy Implications

Cited by 3 publications

References 13 publications

Family Income at Birth and Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at Age 15: Racial Differences

Family Income at Birth and Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at Age 15: Racial Differences

Black Progress through Business Improvement: Two Articles by Joseph R. Houchins, 1900–1989

Financial Issues of African Americans

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