| Abstract: | Individual sorting models prevail in current explanations of inequality, but individual sorting systems form rarely and depend on extensive institutional infrastructure. Inequality results more generally from the conjunction of socially organized categories with (a) clique control of value–producing resources, (b) clique deployment of those resources in relations of exploitation and/or opportunity with members of subordinated or excluded categories, backed up by (c) emulation and adaptation. Historically, major value–producing resources in the production of inequality have included coercive means, labor, animals, land, commitment–maintaining institutions, machines, financial capital, information, media, and scientific–technical knowledge. In the future, financial capital, information, media, and scientific–technical knowledge will play increasing parts in the generation of social inequality. |
