Banning Affirmative Action Hurts Minority Enrollment in Elite Colleges

Bans on affirmative-action-based admissions in certain U.S. states are associated with a decline of 15% to 30% in the proportions of blacks and Hispanics enrolled in selective colleges and universities there, says Peter Hinrichs of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Courts have upheld states’ authority to impose such bans, and Hinrich writes that nationwide, the tide appears to be turning against affirmative action. Average schools appear to be unaffected by affirmative-action bans.