Propositions Essay Sample

Proposition 1 agrees with Autor's explanation marginally since it does not take into account the factors that Autor deems important in the determination of inequality. Autor would not agree with this proposition since his main factor of inequality dwells in the market forces of supply and demand. The second proposition agrees halfway with Autor’s explanation and therefore Autor would agree with it at 50%. This is because the proposition entails the use of public policy that is skewed to favor the rich and those in administration at the expense of the poor. This is a factor that Autor considers though not as a main factor.
I choose the second proposition because the proposition talks about government policies that tend to take into account the interest of the rich and elite in the government today without considering the consequences of such actions to the inequality gap in the United States. The proposition also proposes similar ideas and policies that the government should pursue to address the inequality.

Autor’s Analysis

According to Autor, the changing demand and supply of skills is the main cause of inequality. These changes have been happening since the 1940 when it was only 6% of the American population that had gone through degree programs (Autor, 845). At that time, agriculture was a core activity in supporting the economy.
However, with changing times, technological innovations started to happen leading to opening and increased sectors in an industry such as manufacturing. This, in a big way, contributed to parents taking their children through secondary and post-secondary education. In addition, parents started to recognize that, the agricultural sector was declining a core factor or contributor to the economy and thus the only way that their children were able to earn a decent living was through enhanced or higher education (Autor, 845).
Increased enrollment, pursuance of higher education and the emergence of new industries such as in technology, led to increased demand for excellent skills in the fields of engineering and technical skills, contributing to declining demand for the less educated. Autor summarizes these factors for declining demand for fewer educated workers into three that is; technological change, de-unionization, and globalization (Autor, 849). Globalization played a major role since it fostered competition between countries in terms of innovations and productions leading to increased demand for people with excellent skills in various areas.
Conventional market forces and public policy are the two main factors that have fostered inequality leading to its increase over time. Though some may argue that public policy does not play a part, wrong or inappropriate policies confirm that they have a role to play in decreasing or increasing inequality. Democratic countries have the power to formulate policies that can address inequality in terms of social and economic inequality.
Long-term appropriate policies by such countries should seek to ensure a proper system of progression from preschool to high school education for everyone in the population. Also, the policy should ensure that a large population has access to postsecondary education, good nutrition, good public health and high-quality home environments.
Short-term policies to address the inequalities should include the application of a progressive tax, provide equal opportunities to children from all social backgrounds, setting a modest minimum wage, and provide wage subsidies. For instance, Earned Income Tax credit that would increase the payoff to the low-skilled workers, and progressive tax, to tax the high income earners more than the low income earners in order to provide basic service to the poor (Autor, 850).

Works Cited

David, H, Autor. Skills, Education, and the Rise of earnings among the “other 99 percent”. AAAS. Science, 344, 843(2014).