Critical Analysis of "Racial Differences in Occupational Status and Income in South Africa"

Donald J. Treiman discusses the affects of race on occupation status and income before and after the apartheid system in in his study, "Racial Differences in Occupational Status and Income in South Africa." Non-whites in made around 15% of what whites in made in 1980, before the apartheid system was in place. The apartheid system started off by separating into different regions. These regions consisted of different ethnic groups, Whites, Blacks, Asians and Coloureds. The system was put in place so that whites would no longer affect the decision of native Africans. The system was also designed so that Africans could raise their overall occupational status by getting jobs in the government and businesses of their own segregated regions. The apartheid system occurred in South Africa in the 80's, but there is seemingly no change in the economic structure of South Africa, because non-whites still are at a much lower level of income than whites (in 1991, non-whites in South Africa made around 19%, up 4 percentage points, of what whites in South Africa made in 1980). Treiman's question ask whether or not the apartheid system, that was established in the 80's, actually caused the occupational and income gap to decrease between whites and non-whites in South Africa, and what is the reason for difference? His hypothesis is that he will find a difference in occupational status and income between whites and non-whites that is based on the different races' ability to attain assets that are universally correlated with job prestige and income. Treiman uses the years 1980 (pre-apartheid) and 1991(post-apartheid) in order to reflect the full effect of the apartheid system in his results.