The American economy has been affected over the years by various types of discrimination. Discrimination is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the unfair or prejudicial treatment of differential categories of people or things, especially on the basis of race, age or sex. Despite great progress in labor legislation, America still fails to achieve a level playing field in all categories. The American economy continues to suffer today due to inequalities resulting from discrimination. Becker states that “marketplace discrimination by any group reduces their real incomes as well as those of the minority.” (127)Discrimination affects our economy both directly and indirectly. The New York Times wrote an article describing discrimination as a form of economic inefficiency. Having people in positions they are not qualified to handle just because they fit the mold, while more talented people from minority groups don't get promoted because they don't fit the mold. There are people with skills who do not have the opportunity to share and allow society to benefit from their knowledge. Discriminating against these groups of people prevents them from reaching their true performance level and keeps them in careers below their potential level. Having people in high-paying positions because they look the way they want is bad for our economy. Racial discrimination has been a constant problem for our economy, throughout history much progress has been made regarding racial equality. Dedrick Muhammad defines the essence of racial discrimination: “racial inequality, therefore, has always been defined by economic inequality.” (1) Despite the change... half of the paper... ahead of our discussions and our movements. Without employed, motivated, and valued Americans, we will lose the ability to make these changes for our future generations. To succeed in America we must grow as a nation and overcome the limitations resulting from discrimination. Works Cited “American Money: The Economic Origins of Racism.” BET.com. Np, nd Web. April 16, 2014. “Article: Ageism at Work.” Helenmdennis. Np, nd Web. April 16, 2014. Becker, Gary S. The Economics of Discrimination. Chicago: U of Chicago, 1971. Print.Conrad, Cecilia, Patrick Mason, James Stewart, and John Whitehead. African Americans in the American economy. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005. Print. Nelson, Robert L. and William P. Bridges. Legalizing gender inequality: Courts, markets, and pay inequality for women in America. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1999. Print.