Black Caribbeans in comparative perspective

Abstract This article compares the gap in socioeconomic well‐being between native‐born white persons and Black Caribbean immigrants in four nations: the USA, the UK, Canada and France. Theoretical considerations suggest that the gap will be smallest in France, followed by the USA. The data come from recent censuses and labour market surveys. Four labour market outcomes are considered: labour force participation, unemployment, occupational status and earnings. Each outcome is analysed using multi‐variate models which are estimated separately by gender and nation. A comparison of the size of the inter‐racial gap within genders and across nations reveals a pattern of cross‐national similarity, other things equal. The article's conclusion considers some reasons why the empirical analysis failed to support theoretical expectations. It appears that these reasons have as much to do with the shortcomings of cross‐national methodology as with the shortcomings of social science theory.