Ethnic Differences, first published in 1989, explores how and why the
Irish, Italians, Jews, and blacks of Providence, Rhode Island differed
in their schooling and economic success. Drawing on evidence from
thousands of students records of public, Catholic, and private schools,
as well as on census manuscripts, city directories, and other sources,
the book offers an integrated study of American ethnicity, education,
and social structure. Joel Perlmann examines the extent to which
differing career patterns, and reconsiders the relation between
ethnicity and social class.