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Title: Technological Uncertainty and Earnings Dispersion in U.S. Iron Work, 1865-1880

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2002

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Abstract: The U.S. iron and steel industry adopted new technologies during the 1865-1880 period and grew dramatically. In such contexts various models predict an increase in earnings inequality because of variation in worker skills or ability to adapt to an uncertain environment. Evidence here from an 1880 survey of manufacturing firms shows that earnings inequality rose in the iron and steel producing industries more than in other industries during this period. Industry and technological sources are surveyed here to see why and the paper presents a case that uncertainty rather than skill-bias is the simplest description.

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Authors: Meyer, Peter

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Institution: University of North Carolina

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Publisher Location: Chapel Hill, NC

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Poverty and Welfare

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