Working Paper: NBER ID: w1310
Authors: Jonathan S. Leonard
Abstract: Affirmative action under Executive Order 11246 ranks among the most controversial of domestic federal policies.This study asks whether affirmative action has been successful in promoting the employment of minorities and females. It compares the change in demographics between 1974 and 1980 at more than sixty-eight thousand establishments, and finds that both minority and female employment have increased faster at establishments subject to affirmative action. Compliance reviews, while not well targeted are also found to have been effective.
Keywords: Affirmative Action; Employment; Labor Market; Minorities; Gender
JEL Codes: I20; J15; J78
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Affirmative action (J78) | Increased employment share of black males at contractor establishments (J79) |
| Affirmative action (J78) | Increased employment share of white females at contractor establishments (J21) |
| Compliance reviews (H26) | Increased employment share of black males at contractor establishments (J79) |
| Compliance reviews (H26) | Increased employment of black males, white females, and black females (J79) |
| Affirmative action (J78) | Substitution effect for white males (J79) |
| Affirmative action (J78) | Increased black male relative earnings (J79) |