The Meaning of Equality in America

SIDNEY VERBA is the Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor, Harvard University. He is author and coauthor of numerous books including The Civic Culture and The Changing American Voter. GARY R. ORREN is associate professor of public policy, Harvard University. He has served as a consultant on public opinion polling to both the New York Times and the Washington Post and written widely on American politics. Verba and Orren have recently published the book Equality in America: The View from the Top (Harvard University Press) from which this article is adapted.