INTRAORGANIZATIONAL INCOME INEQUALITY AMONG ACADEMICS IN 1972-73
Abstract
This is a study of the relationship between certain structural variables and the level of income inequality in academic organizations during the academic year 1972-73. The research was performed as a secondary analysis of data gathered on 301 American colleges and universities by the American Council of Education. The research was initiated in an attempt to discern whether structural variables, ordinarily beyond the individual professor's power to affect, are related to the pattern of income inequality. This research, then, explores a structural limitation of status attainment. Income inequality, the dependent variable, is measured by the Gini Index--a technique which discerns the degree to which aggregate income is distributed in more or less equal shares. The criteria used to select the independent variables are implicit in the dual economies model. They form three broad categories reflecting relative marginality to the society's economic activity: (1) Proximity to core or peripheral economic sector. (2) Location in internal or external labor market. (3) Position of marginality or non-marginality in the community stratification system. In each of these cases it was supposed that centrality would result in greater equality of incomes, while marginality would result in greater inequality. It was found that in fact the variables selected were correlated with income equality. A more detailed path analysis failed to show that a dual economies model could be relied upon to explain the correlations. A mechanism thought to be important to the explanation of the relationship between the structural variables and income equality--an expected similarity between the development of nation states and organizations--failed to gain support. Evidence was found to indicate that the dual economies model was potentially useful to the understanding of the relationship between the structural variables and income equality, but the specific formulation of the model elaborated in this study did not receive support. Recommendations for further investigation are presented.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Sociology
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