Measuring Mainstream US Cultural Values

To determine and describe ‘mainstream US culture’ responses to the Schwartz Values Survey version 57 were collected and analyzed amongst two samples, one from 49 states, disregarding state of residence, and another from 27 US states comparing samples by state, with the 27-state populations representing about 82 % of the total US population. Statistical comparisons indicate that the responses of the samples categorised by the total US and state of residence samples and Schwartz’ ten individual cultural values show a cohesive mainstream US culture of the White, generally middle class population, having high motivational value priorities for self-direction, universalism and benevolence, with lowest priorities for power and achievement. We found significant value priority differences between urban and rural residents, but minimal differences relating to gender.     

The relative odds ratio and the theory of abortion choice

This paper hypothesizes that rational household choice with respect to abortion can be conceptualized and empirically measured by way of the relative odds ratio. If, indeed, the household behaves rationally and is endowed with perfect information, it can state its odds of choosing an abortion and will do so in a consistent and noncontradictory way. In this respect, the behavior of the household's odds ratio with respect to abortion choice should confirm Becker's hypothesis regarding cost minimization of child rearing as a tradeoff between child quality and child quantity. This study's empirical findings for a sample of U.S. households reveal odds ratios consistent with Becker's expectation that white household responses to hypothetical abortion inquiries would indicate a preference for child quality, while black responses yield odds ratios pointing to a decided preference for child quantity.     

The Kuznets-Lewis process within the context of race and class in the U.S. economy

The Kuznets-Lewis process is a synthesis of Kuznets's inverted U-hypothesis and Lewis's sectoral terms of trade thesis. Thus, synthesis seeks to explain thePGNP inequality implications for the development transition, e.g., from manufacturing to services. This paper extends this theoretical synthesis a step further by incorporating both racial and class considerations. The paper's empirical findings indicate the transition from manufacturing to services in the U.S. has caused both aggregate class and within-race class inequality to increase. Although the income disparity across races is narrowing within the upper and middle classes, the income disparity within the lower class is, indeed, widening. This latter finding points to a widening of the racial income disparity given the economy's transition from a manufacturing to service sector emphasis.