(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010-07-09)
Dickson, Austin Cartwright
Many scholars suggest that Minority Business Enterprises help disadvantaged
populations and achieve greater equity in society. Rooted in the affirmative action
policies of the 1960s and 1970s, Minority Business Enterprise designations have become
a standard way for the federal government to assist minority entrepreneurs as well as
protect against discrimination in contracting. Some scholars even suggest that these
policies go beyond protection from discrimination and actually foster economic
development in minority communities. This thesis examines those claims and utilizes an
example from 12 years of the Georgia Department of Transportation's records on
contracting with MBEs to answer the question: who is helped by these federal policies?
This examination sheds light on the current literature linking MBEs with economic
development as well as adds to the sparse literature on outcomes for MBE policy. The
results of data analysis show that , over a 12-year period, White female business
enterprises receive the twice as many contracting dollars as all other Minority Business
Enterprises combined.