Abstract
This essay discusses some important methodological problems involved in the testing of Blau's theory of occupational differentiation with cross-national data. We argued that there are two critical problems which preclude such testing at present; namely, the inadequacy of available occupational classifications and the underdeveloped state of prestige measurement. The precise nature and extent of these problems are illustrated with detailed occupational data for a sample of ten modern industrial nations. The essay concludes with some remarks on the general implications of the methodological issues raised in the analysis.
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