How the Other Half Works : Immigration and the Social Organization of Labor

How the Other Half Works solves the riddle of America's contemporary immigration puzzle: why an increasingly high-tech society has use for so many immigrants who lack the basic skills that today's economy seems to demand. In clear and engaging style, Waldinger and Lichter isolate the key factors that explain the presence of unskilled immigrants in our midst. Focusing on Los Angeles, the capital of today's immigrant America, this hard-hitting book elucidates the other side of the new economy, showing that hiring is finding not so much "one's own kind" but rather the "right kind" to fit the demeaning, but indispensable, jobs many American workers disdain.

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In this masterpiece of field research into the social processes that structure America's economy, Waldinger and Lichter unveil the most original and powerful theory ever advanced to explain how 'unskilled' immigrants have come to work at remarkably high rates while inner city blacks continue to languish. Like Wilson's When Work Disappears and Massey and Denton's American Apartheid, How the Other Half Works will set the stage for a new era of poverty research.
In its focus on Los Angeles as the quintessential suburban metropolis and as an exemplar of multi-ethnic America, it may also one day be seen as the founding text in a new LA School of Urban Sociology."—Mitchell Duneier, author of Sidewalk and Slim's Table

"How the Other Half Works is unreservedly one of the most important works on immigration and its relation to the social nature of work in contemporary America. Addressing several of the most vexing 'race' and labor issues of our time, it offers original and persuasive answers that challenge the prevailing wisdom of economists. Grounded in the best tradition of empirical sociology, the work is richly documented, vigorously argued, and clearly presented. With this landmark study, Roger Waldinger (working in tandem with co-author Michael Lichter) confirms his stature as the nation's leading sociologist of immigration."—Orlando Patterson, author of The Ordeal of
Integration: Progress and Resentment in America's "Racial" Crisis

"Based on detailed interviews with a sample of employers of low-wage labor in six Los Angeles industries, Waldinger and Lichter provide a vivid and informative account of social dynamics at the bottom of the labor market. The book builds and extends prior theories of immigration and labor and makes a compelling case for why a sociological standpoint is indispensable for the analysis of these processes."—Alejandro Portes, co-author of Ethnicities: Children of Immigrants in America

"Waldinger and Lichter offer a lucid and penetrating look at the micro-social structure of hiring, firing, and earning in the modern, post-industrial economy. This book should be required reading for people who glibly use the term 'free market.'"—Douglas S. Massey, Dorothy Swaine Thomas Professor of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania

Orlando Patterson

How the Other Half Works is unreservedly one of the most important works on immigration and its relation to the social nature of work in contemporary America. Addressing several of the most vexing 'race' and labor issues of our time, it offers original and persuasive answers that challenge the prevailing wisdom of economists. Grounded in the best tradition of empirical sociology, the work is richly documented, vigorously argued, and clearly presented. With this landmark study, Roger Waldinger (working in tandem with co-author Michael Lichter confirms his stature as the nation's leading sociologist of immigration.

How The Other Half Works Solves The Riddle Of America's Contemporary Immigration Puzzle: Why An Increasingly High-tech Society Has Use For So Many Immigrants Who Lack The Basic Skills That Today's Economy Seems To Demand. Waldinger And Lichter Isolate The Key Factors That Explain The Presence Of Unskilled Immigrants In Our Midst. Focusing On Los Angeles, The Capital Of Today's Immigrant America, This Hard-hitting Book Elucidates The Other Side Of The New Economy, Showing That Hiring Is Finding Not So Much One's Own Kind But Rather The Right Kind To Fit The Demeaning, But Indispensable, Jobs Many American Workers Disdain. List Of Illustrations Acknowledgments Part One -- How The Other Half Works Introduction Part Two -- Social Organization Of Labor -- What Employers Want -- Doing The Job -- Language Of Work Part Three -- From Market To Work -- Network, Bureaucracy, And Exclusion -- Social Capital And Social Closure -- Bringing The Boss Back In Part Four -- Prejudice, Preferences, And Conflict -- Whom Employers Want -- Us And Them -- Diversity And Its Discontents Part Five -- Ethnicity At Work -- Black/immigrant Competition Conclusion Appendix: The Local Context Notes Index. Roger Waldinger And Michael I. Lichter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 253-276) And Index. Illustrations......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1. Introduction......Page 18 2. What Employers Want......Page 46 3. Doing the Job......Page 57 4. The Language of Work......Page 78 5. Network, Bureaucracy, and Exclusion......Page 98 6. Social Capital and Social Closure......Page 115 7. Bringing the Boss Back In......Page 136 8. Whom Employers Want......Page 156 9. “Us” and “Them”......Page 170 10. Diversity and Its Discontents......Page 196 11. Black/Immigrant Competition......Page 220 12. Conclusion......Page 233 Appendix: The Local Context......Page 250 Notes......Page 268 Index......Page 292