Toward a sociological theory of income differences.

Abstract

Examines the way researchers examine the question of why different people have different incomes. Suggests that researchers from two different disciplines view the income disparity differently. Researchers from the sociological discipline and economic discipline each traditionally have their own unique way of examining income disparities that do not suficiently take into account the other disciplines orientiation. The result, he argues, is that different theories do not adequately explain the disparities in income. The author reviews boths sociological and economical explanations for income disparities. He then compares different theories from each perspective and notes their weaknesses and flaws. Then, he examines how economic and sociological ideas can benefit one another. Finally, he concludes with a model of examining income disparities that suggests a combination of both economic and sociological theory.