Article
Contesting the Magic of the Marketplace Black Employment and Business Concentration in the Urban Context.pdf
Urban Studies
(2002)
Abstract
The spatial decentralisation of urban firms has been the primary focus of urbanists
seeking to understand how Black employment is impacted by the changing nature of business in
the US. Very little attention has been given to the impact of market concentration on Black
employment in the urban environment. Using the most recent data available from the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, the paper finds that Black male and female employment
is positively associated with greater market concentration, not greater market competition as
predicted by some neo-classical economists. There is little support for the contention that
economic forces at work in competitive markets tend to minimise discrimination, either in the
urban environment, or in the nation as a whole. The central city continues to be an important
factor in Black employment because central-city firms are in industries with higher market
concentration, which tend to employ more Black workers. However, increased market concentration
is a crucial element in Black employment, regardless of industry location or worker
occupation.
Keywords
- Black Employment,
- Blacks,
- Competition,
- Equal Opportunities (Jobs),
- Labor Market,
- Racial Discrimination,
- Urban Areas
Disciplines
Publication Date
September, 2002
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/0042098022000002966
Citation Information
Major Coleman. "Contesting the Magic of the Marketplace Black Employment and Business Concentration in the Urban Context.pdf" Urban Studies Vol. 39 Iss. 10 (2002) p. 1793 - 1818 ISSN: 0042-0980 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/major-coleman/5/