Black‐White Wage Differences among Young Women, 1977‐86

Until the 1970s, wage rates converged for black and white women, especially young women. However, the pay gap between black and white women in their twenties rose. 074 log points between 1977 and 1986. This paper uses data from the 1977 National Longitudinal Survey of Young Women and the 1986 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to explore reasons for the change. Changes in the relative level of work experience and in the rate of return to schooling are emphasized.