Thomas Sowell

For decades, Sowell has argued that when the minimum wage is set above some workers' productivity, it particularly reduces employment among young and low-skilled people and has historically contributed to unemployment among young Black people. This categorical formulation is challenged by modern empirical research in which the magnitude of employment effects varies substantially according to the minimum wage level, local labour market and methodology.

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In 'Intellectuals and Race', Sowell argues that intellectuals too often attribute group disparities to discrimination and neglect historical, cultural, geographical and economic factors. Critics considered that he selected data to support a conservative thesis and underestimated the importance of racial institutions.

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In a 2007 column, Sowell denounced what he called 'hysteria' surrounding global warming and recommended the documentary 'The Great Global Warming Swindle', which strongly challenged the attribution of warming to human activities. This position conflicts with the established scientific consensus that human activity is the main driver of warming observed since the 20th century.

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In 'Black Rednecks and White Liberals', Sowell argues that some behaviours found in certain Black American communities may have roots in a 'redneck' culture originating in regions of Britain and subsequently the white South, and that certain liberal intellectuals have romanticised or protected destructive behaviours. The thesis was strongly criticised for its risk of essentialising groups and for giving limited attention to the lasting effects of slavery, segregation and discrimination.

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In 'Affirmative Action Around the World', Sowell compares group preference policies in several countries and concludes that they often deliver fewer benefits than expected, reinforce certain divisions or primarily benefit already advantaged members of the targeted groups. Critics considered that his case selection and combination of very different historical contexts made certain generalisations excessive.

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In 'A Conflict of Visions', Sowell proposed explaining much of political disagreement through two fundamental visions of human nature: a 'constrained' vision and an 'unconstrained' vision. Critics, including Michael Harrington, regarded the framework as overly binary and more charitable towards the conservative tradition than towards its opponents.

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In 'Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality?', Sowell argues that differences between groups cannot automatically be attributed to discrimination and that several civil rights policies produce unintended adverse effects. Critics considered that he sometimes underestimated genuinely documented racial discrimination and drew overly broad conclusions from historical comparisons.

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Thomas Sowell attracted attention from Ronald Reagan's circle by defending strongly critical positions on affirmative action, school busing and the minimum wage. These positions met particularly strong opposition from civil rights organisation leaders who believed that he minimised structural discrimination and provided an intellectual justification for rolling back remedial policies.

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