infonet-economy

This paper exploits variation in the timing and outcomes of
employment discrimination lawsuits against U.S. law enforcement agencies
to estimate the cumulative and persistent employment effects of
temporary externally imposed affirmative action (AA). We find that AA
increased black employment at all ranks by 4.5 to 6.2 percentage points
relative to national trends. We also find no erosion of these employment
gains in the fifteen years following AA termination, although black
employment growth was significantly lower in departments after AA ended
than in departments whose plans continued. For women, in contrast, we
find only marginal employment gains at lower ranks.