Wage inequality for males in theUnited States increased dramaticallyduring the 1980s. Between 1979 and1990, the weekly earnings of collegegraduates increased by 2 percent while the real weeklyearnings of high school graduates decreased by more than16 percent. As a result, the wage premium for...

Using data from the March CPS and the 1960 Census, this paper describes earnings and employment changes for married couples in different types of households stratified by the husband's hourly wage. While the declines in male employment and earnings have been greatest for low wage men, employment...

The increase in wage inequality during the 1980s was exceptional, but underlying demand and supply conditions showed relatively little contrast compared to previous decades. One possible explanation is that the increased demand for skills during the 1980s was unusually concentrated among the...