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Federal Reserve Study Shows Race Determines Your Likelihood of Becoming a Millionaire
The Atlanta Black Star ^ | January 24, 2016 | Manny Otiko

Posted on 01/24/2016 6:51:30 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Many white Americans like to believe the United States is a country with a level playing field, where everyone has a fair chance of making it. But a recent Bloomberg article states that race has a lot to do with your economic success. Bloomberg gathered data from economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Writer Victoria Stilwell also posed the question: Would it be possible to calculate the odds of being a millionaire for anyone in the U.S., based on age, education and race?

The economists, who had already conducted extensive research on the subject, found that race plays a significant role in an individual’s earning power.

“It’s a false narrative to say race doesn’t matter in the United States,” said William Emmons, a senior economic adviser at the St. Louis Fed. “It demonstrably does in the results we keep coming upon.”

The bank researchers found that a middle-aged, college educated Asian had a 22.3 percent chance of being a millionaire. Whites had a 21.5 percent chance, Hispanics a 6.8 percent chance and Blacks had a 6.4 percent chance of being a millionaire.

The researchers found education increases an individual’s earning potential. But they also found that a college education only increased a Black person’s chances of becoming a millionaire by 1 percent.

Interestingly enough, the economists found that a white high school graduate had about the same odds of being a millionaire as a middle-aged, Black graduate degree holder. This is not new information. Many studies have showed that Black people who possess degrees from top-notch universities still have high levels of unemployment. White high school graduates have better employment rates than Black college graduates. This calls into question the value of expensive college degrees. If Blacks are spending small fortunes on college education and not improving their job prospects, they maybe looking at things the wrong way.

Former finance professor Dr. Boyce Watkins encourages Black people not to get caught up in the “corporate plantation” and create their own businesses.

“We have to get rid of the lie which says that going to school will guarantee a black man a good job,” said Watkins on his website Financial Juneteeth. ”The right kind of education is valuable, but you’re still going to be Black.”

Many other Americans are beginning to question the value and cost of college education. According to U.S. News & World Report, a study of 2,000 graduates found more than half believed recent college graduates will see lower returns on their education investment than 10-15 years ago.

Emmons said that while the information might be depressingly familiar, it is still useful. He said it was important lawmakers understand the underlying issues if they are going to pass policies to address inequality.

“A lot of what people talk about as responses to inequality of this sort or that sort— they’re probably not going to make much difference given that these underlying factors seem to be so powerful,” Emmons said.

He added that the research shattered the myth of everyone starting out equal.

“We all come out in the birth lottery with different endowments,” Emmons said. “Starting from that point, what can you do to move yourself in a direction you’ll be happy with? That’s what we’re really trying to get at.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: age; education; millionaires; parishilton; race
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Now A’int That Just A Big THANG?


41 posted on 01/24/2016 7:26:52 PM PST by EnglishOnly (Fight all out to win OR get out now.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Majors mean everything, because teachers and journolists, and black studies majors, and lesbian diversity majors, do not have the earning potential of engineers, doctors, lawyers and scientists. These people - myself one of them - put long hours in up front, much more do than most other majors, who I remember watching go to parties while I went to the library or stayed in, to study.


42 posted on 01/24/2016 7:32:03 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

If you’re black and can dunk a basketball, you have a good chance of becoming a millionaire. If you’re white and can do the same. Chances not so good.


43 posted on 01/24/2016 7:33:51 PM PST by Old Yeller (Obama is winning the war on terror when you realize he is on the side of the enemy.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Liberals: confusing cause and effect for two centuries now.


44 posted on 01/24/2016 7:35:15 PM PST by IronJack
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To: dfwgator

Shhhhhhh! Can’t you keep the secret?


45 posted on 01/24/2016 7:54:33 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie (The Bush family needs to just go away. The Clinton family needs just to go to prison.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

More likely its culture not skin color.


46 posted on 01/24/2016 8:02:10 PM PST by Mechanicos
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
i guess that explains all the millionaire ballers then... wait, what?
47 posted on 01/24/2016 8:08:32 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - Luke, 22:36)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The bank researchers found that a middle-aged, college educated Asian had a 22.3 percent chance of being a millionaire. Whites had a 21.5 percent chance, Hispanics a 6.8 percent chance and Blacks had a 6.4 percent chance of being a millionaire.

But, but, but Asians have darker skin than whites... isn't it all about skin color?

48 posted on 01/24/2016 8:11:47 PM PST by GOPJ (It's more important to have a gun in your hand than a cop on the phone- Florida Sheriff Grady Judd)
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To: SpaceBar
This article is so full of bs I don't even know where to start.

I guess I'd start with the first two sentences, which try to make the claim that outcome implies opportunity.

49 posted on 01/24/2016 8:26:45 PM PST by Darth Reardon (During the Great Depression, World War I was referred to as the Great War)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Marriage plays a significant role.
Marrying causes people to be more likely to save for retirement and kids’ college compared to equal peers who just live together.
3/4 of black kids are illegitimate
1/3 of white kids are illegitimate
1/2 of Hispanic kids are illegitimate

When you have two kids by two different men, you don’t have a united front for planning and managing finances OR economies of scale because his money goes to other kids and his own rent.

And this is separate from Asian parents demanding kids earn degrees and get jobs, versus many blacks who are fine with finishing a votech degree and working part time. It ignores the black kids beat up by other black kids for acting white, and colleges who give scholarship preferences to the black kid who wants to be an activist over the one who wants to be a financial analyst.

They are blaming race, when it is literally cultural differences in marriage rates and valuing education.


50 posted on 01/24/2016 8:35:50 PM PST by tbw2
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

If you want to be rich, do what rich people do.

If you want to be poor, do what poor people do.

Ain’t that complicated.


51 posted on 01/24/2016 9:17:50 PM PST by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting , knitting, always knitting.)
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To: PAR35

Or sell drugs on the side while living with mama or grandma.


52 posted on 01/24/2016 9:39:31 PM PST by Pining_4_TX (All those who were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“Determines”

That indicates causation, when all they really have is correlation.

A type of lying really.


53 posted on 01/24/2016 10:42:43 PM PST by BeauBo
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Race has nothing to do with it... Persistence and drive... Not to mention a penchant for hitting a three pointer


54 posted on 01/25/2016 3:44:49 AM PST by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Clinton gore defined millionaire as those who make 250k a year... Someone making 30k a year for 34 years will also meet that logical conclusion...

Lies and statistics?


55 posted on 01/25/2016 3:47:56 AM PST by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

When I saw those ranking that’s the first thing I noticed. Odd that the researchers didn’t point that out. Then when you add in the different cultural attitudes to work and education it becomes pretty obvious. Read the Asian mother’s book—called Tiger Mother, I think.


56 posted on 01/25/2016 6:23:17 AM PST by R Rogers
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