An examination of the effects of high school and college education on the earnings of Black and White males in 1972 and 1978 finds a convergence in the college and high school earnings gap for Whites but growing disparity for Blacks. Five tables provide sample characteristics and education-earnings data. (PB)

Evaluates changes in social background, resource constraints, and labor market incentives as possible explanations for differences in the educational expectations between black, and white high school students during 1980-92. Maintains that a consideration of relative direct costs and improvement of social background is necessary to explain these…

Maintains that, among black and white men born between 1907 and 1946, family background accounts for at least half the variance in educational attainment. Reports on a study of 14,711 males to determine the educational attainments of men and their brothers among blacks and whites across time. (CFR)

Focuses on the impact of weak labor force attachment on grade retention by the ninth grade among urban black children. Suggests that higher risks of grade retention are associated with welfare dependency only when income is obtained from welfare alone and receipt of welfare is persistent. (MJP)