prominent, and African American and White women with equivalent levels of economic

resources appear to have comparable rates of retirement.

 Racial disparities in rates of work disability are even more pronounced. Results

suggest that African American women are approximately twice as likely as White women

to exit the labor force via work disability. Both temporally distal and proximate factors

intervene in the race-work disability relationship. For instance, racial differences in

educational attainment account for a significant share of racial disparities in work

disability. Also, more contemporaneous factors such as physical and self-rated health are,

in part, a function of education, and account for a substantial portion of the race gap in

rates of work disability. While some researchers have suggested that racial disparities in

work disability are a consequence of economic incentives, lack of attractive employment,

or social desirability, this study's findings suggest that African American women's

disproportionately high rates of work disability are primarily a consequence of their

poorer health.

 While health differences between the two groups account for a substantial portion

of the race gap in work disability, residual racial disparities in work disability remain.

One reason that the health disparities may not have completely accounted for the race gap

in work disability may be due to under-reporting of health conditions among African

American women. Compared to White women, African American women have far fewer

economic resources, are more likely to be uninsured, and are less likely to have employer

provided insurance. Consequently they are likely to receive infrequent and inadequate

health care. African American's lower rates of contact with health care providers may