← Search

The Impact of Affirmative Action on Employment

Jonathan S. Leonard1,2

1 National Bureau of Economic Research · 2 University of California, Berkeley

Journal of Labor Economics 1984 open access

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.

DOI
10.1086/298041
Volume
2 (4)
Pages
439-463
Language
en
Export
BibTeX
Sources
openalex crossref