It is absolutely safe to say that Thomas Sowell is one of the most influential economists of our time. This 86-year-old man started his career as a domestic worker and a janitor after his mother passed away, yet today he is one of the foremost public intellectuals of our time, having written over forty books and hundreds of articles on his perspectives on race and economics. Famous for his vigorous stance against affirmative action and for his opposition to welfare programs, Sowell has been a valuable contributor to economics and race discussions over the years.
In this article, we’re going to explore Thomas Sowell’s perspective on race and economics, explaining exactly what kind of outlook does Thomas Sowell have on today’s racial and economic issues.
Background on Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell was born in 1930 in Gastonia, North Carolina, born to Blanche and William Sowell, who eventually died when Thomas was only 17 years old. After this happened, he had to work as a domestic worker and a janitor while attending high school at the same time in order to provide for himself. After graduating from high school, he joined the Marine Corps, served during the Korean War, then went to Harvard University, where he became the first black person to be accepted into its economics Ph.D. program.
Eventually, he taught economics at several colleges, such as Stanford University, Cornell University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He also wrote countless books and articles related to race, ethnicity, and economics, such as Black Rednecks and White Liberals, The Vision of the Anointed, and Discrimination and Disparities.
It is clear that the experience of growing up in poverty and seeing segregation in the US has influenced Sowell’s views in a deep way.
Thomas Sowell’s Theory of Culture and Economics
One of Sowell’s most fundamental beliefs is that culture is a major determining factor that shapes economics as well as one’s life choices. According to Sowell, culture is often passed down generations, determining one’s views on money, productivity, and entrepreneurship. Sowell claims that certain cultural factors such as “values, beliefs, and expectations” are the primary determinants of economic success and failure.
In other words, Sowell believes that one’s culture shapes one’s economic outcomes, rather than race or other external factors. He has pointed to the successes of certain Asian and Jewish ethnicities as evidence that culture rather than race is the driving source of success.
Thomas Sowell on Affirmative Action
Sowell has been a long time critic of affirmative action, believing that race and gender should not play a role in the allocation of resources. He posits that this creates a system of “distorted proportionality”, where individuals of certain races and genders are given more resources and attention than others in order to achieve racial quotas.
He also believes that affirmative action creates discrimination, since employers are more likely to overlook more qualified candidates in favor of those who meet certain quotas of race and gender. Ultimately, Sowell has argued that affirmative action initiatives have done more harm than good, by creating a false sense of success and entitlement among certain racial and gender groups.
Thomas Sowell’s Criticism of the Welfare State
Sowell has been very critical of welfare programs and policies, believing that these initiatives can create a culture of dependence among individuals. He has argued that by providing resources for free, governments encourage individuals to rely on government aid, instead of taking the initiative to work and create opportunities for themselves. He believes that this creates a cycle of poverty and potential disaster, since the individuals become dependent on government aid.
Additionally, Sowell has pointed out that welfare programs are not the only solution for poverty, since some of the most successful countries in the world (Japan, South Korea, and Germany) do not have expansive welfare systems. Thus, Sowell’s argument is that if these nations can foster economic growth without exorbitant welfare programs, then other countries should be able to as well.
Thomas Sowell on Race Relations
One of Sowell’s most controversial stances has been his views on racial issues. He believes that individuals should not be judged by the color of their skin but instead should be judged by their character and actions. At times, he has made bold statements such as his belief that “it is impossible to talk sensibly about racial issues without the respective facts” and that “the most important lesson in race relations is to stop looking at one another in terms of groups and focus instead on individuals.”
Sowell argues that colorblindness is the key to creating equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of race. He believes that if individuals are treated as individuals, rather than part of a group, then it is more likely for equal opportunities to arise. Though this views can be somewhat divisive and controversial, Sowell’s main point is that individuals should be judged solely on their character and abilities, not on their race.
Thomas Sowell stands out among the countless number of economists of our time due to his views on race and economics. He believes that culture, not race, is the driving source of economic success and failure and is very critical of government welfare programs as well as affirmative action. Finally, Sowell is passionate about colorblindness and believes that judging individuals based on character and actions rather than racial membership is key to creating equal opportunities for all individuals.
Though Sowell’s perspectives on race and economics are often quite controversial, he has been a valuable contributor to countless debates and conversations related to race and economics. His perspectives have certainly helped shape the discourse on these topics, and it’s very likely that his views will continue to influence today’s conversations on race and economics.
