A social network analysis of occupational segregation

Arbeitspapier

We develop a social network model of occupational segregation between different social groups, generated by the existence of positive inbreeding bias among individuals from the same group. If network referrals are important for job search, then expected homophily in the contact network structure induces different career choices for individuals from different social groups. This further translates into stable occupational segregation equilibria in the labor market. We derive the conditions for wage and unemployment inequality in the segregation equilibria and characterize first and second best social welfare optima. Surprisingly, we find that socially optimal policies involve segregation.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Nota di Lavoro ; No. 2008,31

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity ; Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials ; Labor Discrimination: General ; Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
• Subject: Social Networks ; Homophily ; Inbreeding Bias ; Occupational Segregation ; Labor Market Inequality ; Social Welfare ; Arbeitsmarktsegmentierung ; Arbeitsmarktdiskriminierung ; Soziales Netzwerk ; Lohndifferenzierung ; Wohlfahrtstheorie ; Theorie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): van der Leij, Marco J. ; Buhai, I. Sebastian
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)
• (where): Milano
• (when): 2008

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/40678
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET