William E. Spriggs: Why Economists Model Race and Discrimination Incorrectly

Lecture Recording

Why Economists Model Race and Discrimination Incorrectly, (lecture slides)

Abstract

The presentation examines the origins of modern economists' concept of race and then presents clear examples of the complexity of discrimination.

Biography

William Spriggs is a professor in, and former Chair of, the Department of Economics at Howard University and serves as Chief Economist to the AFL-CIO.  In his role with the AFL-CIO he chairs the Economic Policy Working Group for the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and serves on the board of the National Bureau of Economic Research.  He is currently, the president-elect of the Labor Employment Research Association, and serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of MDC Inc (Durham, NC).  He serves on the Advisory Boards of WorkRise (of the Urban Institute) and the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.