Social class in Australia.

Abstract

The term 'class' is used in three distinct senses: a 'categorical' difference between blue and white collar work; 'status' distinctions based on education and occupational rank; and 'conflict' aspects based on authority and ownership of the means of production. Survey data from Australia, Britain and US show that all three aspects are important, but in different ways. Only the status and conflict aspects affect earnings, and only the categorical and conflict aspects affect voting behaviour, while all three affect people's subjective perceptions of their own class position.- Authors Show more