ISC / International Survey Center [ Home |  New | Data | Publications | Work in progress | Worldwide Attitudes | People | Search ]

WORLD INEQUALITY PROJECT

This project builds on work Jonathan Kelley, M.D.R. Evans, and Krzysztof Zagorski are doing on inequality and class conflict. It is based on data of our design from the International Social Survey Project Inequality Module 1987 (9 nations) and 1992 (17 nations); and our new International Survey of Economic Attitudes (Wave 1 in 3 nations, Wave 2 in 6 nations).

In addition to journal articles, we plan two edited books: One focusing on inequality (following the general pattern of our "The Legitimation of Inequality: Norms on Occupational Earnings in Nine Nations" American Journal of Sociology, 1993) and the other on class conflict (following the general pattern of our with "Class and Class Conflict in Six Western Nations" American Sociological Review, 1995). The books will each have new chapters on each nation (including analyses of changes over time, where possible) by a distinguished group of authors.

To ensure comparability, all chapters will:

• (1) Include a common set of core analyses, using the common data sets and exactly the same definitions, measurement and methods (implemented in a common SPSS file), and addressing a common set of issues. This will be the same in all nations.
• (2) There will also be further common extended analyses for some specific groups of nations -- for example, addressing points particularly relevant for post-communist nations. These too will use exactly the same definitions, measurement and methods.
• (3) Finally, there will be special country-specific analyses, as appropriate to each country. These will in general not be directly comparable.

The books:

The Legitimation Of Inequality: Public Opinion on Income Inequality in 19 Nations. Editors: Jonathan Kelley, M.D.R. Evans, and Krzysztof Zagorski. Series: World Inequality Project, Volume #1. (Proposed publication date: 1999)

Class and Class Conflict Public Perceptions in 21 Nations. Editors: M.D.R. Evans and Jonathan Kelley. Series: World Inequality Project, Volume #2. (Proposed publication date: 2000)