Another example of intentions vs. results

Professor Walter Williams' latest column talks about the effect of increases in the minimum wage on the employment rates of black teenagers. He points out that today, while the unemployment rate among white teenagers is around 25%, the unemployment rate among black teenagers is around 50%. Why is that the case, and has that disparity always been the case?

Enter Williams:

How do you think the Reverends Jackson and Sharpton would explain the unemployment difference between black and white teens? You can bet the rent money they would say: It's racial discrimination. Let's investigate. Was racial discrimination in 1948 greater or less than racial discrimination today? In 1948, the unemployment rate for white 16-17- year-olds was 10.2 percent, while that for blacks was 9.4 percent. Among white 18-19- year-olds, unemployment was 9.4 percent, and for blacks it was 10.5 percent. During that period, not only were the unemployment rates similar, black teenagers were either equally as active as whites in the labor force or more so.

To read the rest, click here.

Good Day to You, Sir