Introduction
In the modern world, more and more attention is paid to the trends of diversity and inclusiveness in the form of social responsibility in most more or less large companies. However, attempts are being made to implement these aspects at higher levels. The Minority Business Development Agency runs a diversity, equity, and inclusion program. This company has been financing various organizations since 1969, gradually expanding its presence and support network throughout the country (MBDA, 2018). Since then, this agency has created many jobs every year and allocated capital to relevant organizations. The company’s goal is the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises (MBDA, n.d.). The company also separately reports on its impact on the African American community by providing jobs to African American men and women. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of this organization in the development of this program and an assessment of the future impact of the agency from the moment of official approval in 2021. The hypothesis being tested in the study is that the agency’s performance in terms of allocated capital and jobs will improve. Evidence regarding the agency’s success under the executive branch compared to after the transition to congressional responsibility will be examined, and results are expected to improve.
Rationale
Drawing attention to the employment problem of members of minorities was important primarily from an economic point of view. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices can indirectly influence employment rates and GDP through various social aspects. The country’s general well-being depends on the well-being and sentiments of the entire population. The economic crisis exacerbates economic and racial divisions. Young people from low-income families suffer the most from this. The problem of income inequality has a high social significance, having the ability to exacerbate the situation in society and hurt the country’s economy. The US has the highest level of income inequality among industrial nations (Telford, 2019). Against the background of this difference, people from low-income families often find themselves in a hopeless situation, resorting to psychoactive substances and crime, without being able to adapt socially.
Even if minorities do not commit acts of violence against other people, the society in which they live still suffers losses. People from low-income families cannot fully participate in the life of society; their creative potential is not revealed and is wasted fruitlessly. Particularly tragic is inherited poverty in minorities, when the children of the poor, with the same abilities, have much less chance of self-fulfillment than their peers born in families with average incomes. A similar picture is observed concerning education, which is a springboard and a severe basis to obtaining high qualifications and well-paid jobs. The protracted nature of the problem has given rise to the need for support at the state level, also due to the consequences described below.
The uneven distribution of jobs is a serious problem, especially when the factor of discrimination is mixed in. Even now, the problem remains within politics due to the existence of such a phenomenon as structural racism (Bailey et al., 2021). As a result, trust in state institutions and institutions suffers, and the level of crime may increase. Support for low-income families of different races helps to avoid all the negative factors mentioned, which have both social and economic consequences. In addition, a large income gap differentiates society, increasing the possibility of conflict. It is in the state’s interests to close this gap, both economically and in various social aspects, by promoting inclusion, income equity, and diversity.
Initially, the MBDA program operated under the leadership of the executive branch, which is essential in terms of high-profile handling cases, appeals, lawsuits against the states and the federal government, and determining the constitutionality of laws. Given that the issue concerns the fundamental values enshrined in the Constitution, the transition to Congress is essential in several ways. The most important of these concerns the fact that Congress is responsible for setting US fiscal and budgetary policy. Incorporating MBDA interests that communicate with major societal issues is a promising solution in theory but, in practice, requires empirical research and tracking reporting in terms of job quantification and committed capital.
For quite a long time, the white race was the primary race for America. Trends are gradually changing since young people are more ethnically heterogeneous, and sooner or later, generations will replace each other. Analytically, information is increasingly presented that is proactive concerning the problem – policies are aimed at creating conditions for inclusion and diversity for all, rather than locally correcting the symptoms of a historical problem (Doucerain et al., 2018). Therefore, the evaluation of programs such as MBDA will be of decisive importance in future policy due to the significant impact of aspects on the sociological and economic environment.
Research questions will be as follows: What implication would MBDA have since becoming a statutory agency under congress? What is the Impact of it now being regulated by congress instead of the executive branch of office? What impact did the last two presidential administrations have on the program implementation and funding of MBDA? The study can track the impact of quantitative indicators of the empowerment of a given agency on performance. The question is how much regulation by Congress will differ from executive power. The leading indicators that reflect the agency’s activities are jobs and the amount of allocated capital for organizations that support the values of DEI.
Objectives
These studies can be critical in US policy’s social and economic issues at the national level. The specificity of the tasks is quite clearly set in the mission and goals of the MBDA, which reflect at a high level the maintenance of the competitiveness of minority enterprises (MBDA, n.d.). All achievements are proactive and forward-looking so that growth in a well-defined business area is cumulative. Although the measurability of efficiency has been developed for a long time and is an assessment of the number of jobs and allocated capital, for a more comprehensive assessment for future empirical research, one can also mention the average length of service of each employee, the ratio of financial indicators of operating activities before and after the program intervention, and many others. They reflect the lasting effect of MBDA’s activities.
However, the achievement of the goals of this study is assessed only within the framework of the listed information about jobs and allocated capital. This information is publicly available and has a specific history, based on which it is possible to track the dynamics and build relevant relationships and forecasts (MBDA, 2018). At a broader level of society, performance appraisal can provide insights and responses of the following kind. If low-income minorities can take jobs that encourage diversity and fairness, fewer people will commit crimes for profit. In addition, the gap between the rich and the poor will gradually narrow, reducing the aggravation in society and the likelihood of conflicts. Against the backdrop of these events, stereotypical thinking against minorities will be eradicated, and structural racism and discrimination cases in the workplace will also gradually decrease. Finally, the confidence of more of the minority population in state institutions and authorities, in general, will increase.
Consequently, the mentioned goals will be significant at the national level. The time limit should be set only for research tasks since the significant consequence will only be proven if the agency works effectively under the direction of Congress. The consequences indicated above may take an indefinitely long time, where the positive dynamics of changes on the issues of the problem is more important than any specific time frame. Political action will be defined at the level of values that have a strong cultural, social, and economic impact. It can be concluded that the tasks set have the character of SMART and result-oriented goals, which are expected to improve the outcomes of staff allocated to minority jobs, as well as increase the allocated funding.
Conclusion
The historical problem of lack of employment among minorities can be traced back to the history of the development of the MBDA. Although the state paid much attention to this issue, many aspects of the problem can be found in modern times, which requires not only drawing attention to the problem but also specific and quick actions aimed at the root, and not just at the symptoms. It is proposed to conduct a study of the effectiveness of the MBDA after the change of the control system from the executive to the legislature. Provided the rate of growth in quantitative indicators of allocated capital and jobs for minority enterprises is maintained, the effect will have positive qualitative consequences for society, the economy, and the culture of values in the politics of the United States of America.
References
Bailey, Z. D., Feldman, J. M., & Bassett, M. T. (2021). How structural racism works—racist policies as a root cause of US racial health inequities.New England Journal of Medicine, 384(8), 768-773.
Doucerain, M. M., Amiot, C. E., Thomas, E. F., & Louis, W. R. (2018). What it means to be American: Identity inclusiveness/exclusiveness and support for policies about muslims among US‐born whites. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 18(1), 224-243.
MBDA. (2018). MBDA History.
MBDA. (n.d.) Who we are.
Telford, T. (2019). Income inequality in America is the highest it’s been since Census Bureau started tracking it, data shows. Washington Post, 26.