This book, written by two leading Swedish economists and first published in 1984, constitutes a threefold contribution to the expanding field of economic discrimination. In the first place, it summarizes different approaches to the economics of discrimination, from the beginning of the British debate on equal pay in the 1890s onwards. Secondly, the book contains analytical chapters that, taking the theory originated by Gary Becker as their point of departure, critique and develop the Beckerian theory in a number of ways; in particular, the phenomenon known as crowding is investigated in different models. Finally, the theories thus developed are applied to a concrete case of discrimination: that of apartheid in South Africa. This is a fascinating title that will be of value to any economics students researching the development of discrimination theory during the twentieth-century in particular.

This book, written by two leading Swedish economists and first published in 1984, constitutes a threefold contribution to the expanding field of economic discrimination. In the first place, it summarizes different approaches to the economics of discrimination, from the beginning of the British debate on equal pay in the 1890s onwards. Secondly, the book contains analytical chapters that, taking the theory originated by Gary Becker as their point of departure, critique and develop the Beckerian theory in a number of ways; in particular, the phenomenon known as crowding is investigated in different models. Finally, the theories thus developed are applied to a concrete case of discrimination: that of apartheid in South Africa. This is a fascinating title that will be of value to any economics students researching the development of discrimination theory during the twentieth century in particular.

As Denmark, like the other countries of Western Europe, evolves into more of an immigrant nation, it becomes critical to examine the consequences of such fundamental changes to its population. This volume deals with the economic effects of immigration on the Danish public sector, in terms of both public income (through taxes) and public expenses (through transfers and the use of services).

The authors concentrate on developments in the 1990s, carefully constructing their analysis on a strong statistical foundation. One major finding is that the fiscal impact on the public sector has been especially marked in the case of immigrants from non-Western countries, while Western immigrants have had an impact much closer to that of native-born Danes. The book attributes this difference to two major factors: the non-Westerners have more children, and they experience more difficulty in joining the workforce. While the economic upturn of the late 90's increased their employment rate, it never exceeded 26%, and those who did work earned lower wages than their Western-born counterparts. If the net contribution of non-Western immigrants is to equal their net cost to the state, the authors calculate that their employment rate would have to more than double.

While most of the analysis distinguishes among immigrant subgroups, the book also uncovers some useful data by subdividing the public sector. Most significant is the conclusion that local municipalities shoulder a disproportionately large share of the immigrant cost, due to immigrants' greater need for childcare and schooling, as well as for social and housing allowances. The authors note that the size of these transfers can affect thewillingness of municipalities to receive immigrants.

This volume should be useful to policy-makers, as well as to scholars with an interest in immigration and the economics of the welfare state.