Transmitting Inequality: Wealth and the American Family

by Yuval Elmelech

Overview

While the United States is the world's richest nation, the distribution of private property and wealth among Americans is often comprised of alarmingly disparate portions. With a rapidly aging and increasingly diverse population, the interdependence between generations, institutions, and social spheres has become essential to social stratification processes in contemporary American society.. In this authoritative work, Yuval Elmelech investigates the role that family transactions of material resources play in the stratification system. Drawing on empirical evidence from a broad array of sources, Transmitting Inequality provides an interdisciplinary framework for examining the social, demographic and institutional structures that shape the distribution of property and wealth in the United States.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461646358
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/21/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	268
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Yuval Elmelech is associate professor of sociology at Bard College and research associate at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Institutional Foundation of the Commodity Market
Chapter 2: Demographic Changes and the Distribution of Wealth
Chapter 3: Social Class and Property
Chapter 4: Social Policy and Economic Inequality
Part 5 Part II: Wealth and Welfare
Part 6 Part III: Inequality in a Multi-Ethnic Society
Chapter 7 Chapter 5: Families, Generations and Familial Responsibility
Chapter 8 Chapter 6: The Racial/Ethnic Divide
Chapter 9 Chapter 7: Intragroup Inequality and Social Closure
Part 10 Part IV: Financial Institutions, Demographic Transitions and Economic Polarization

Editorial Reviews

This book is a profound and important contribution to stratification theory. Elmelech demonstrates how inequality in family wealth cascades through the components of life chances and living standards. He convincingly argues that our formulations of social class must be broadened to include considerations of net worth and asset types.

Seymour Spilerman

This book is a welcome and important contribution to the stratification literature. Elmelech introduces an original conceptual framework for the study of stratification and inequality by delineating the social mechanisms underlying the causal relations between parental wealth and children economic wellbeing. By so doing, Elmelech expands the scope of stratification research from exclusive focus on labor market outcomes to the impact of family resources and family wealth on economic wellbeing. Transmitting Inequality thus, is a must for students of stratification and inequality.

Moshe Semyonov

Elmelech...weaves a complex, comprehensive narrative....Recommended.

Choice Reviews

Elmelech...weaves a complex, comprehensive narrative....Recommended.

November 2008 Choice Reviews

Elmelech...weaves a complex, comprehensive narrative....Recommended.

November 2008 Choice

This book is a welcome and important contribution to the stratification literature. Elmelech introduces an original conceptual framework for the study of stratification and inequality by delineating the social mechanisms underlying the causal relations between parental wealth and children economic wellbeing. By so doing, Elmelech expands the scope of stratification research from exclusive focus on labor market outcomes to the impact of family resources and family wealth on economic wellbeing. Transmitting Inequality thus, is a must for students of stratification and inequality.--Moshe Semyonov, Tel-Aviv Univeristy

This book is a profound and important contribution to stratification theory. Elmelech demonstrates how inequality in family wealth cascades through the components of life chances and living standards. He convincingly argues that our formulations of social class must be broadened to include considerations of net worth and asset types.--Seymour Spilerman, Julian C. Levi, Professor of Sociology and Co-Director, Center for the Study of Wealth and Inequality, Columbia University

Elmelech...weaves a complex, comprehensive narrative....Recommended.--CHOICE, November 2008

From the Publisher

Elmelech...weaves a complex, comprehensive narrative....Recommended.

November 2008 CHOICE