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Local Administration and Racial Inequality in Federal Program Access: Insights from New Deal Work Relief

Author

Listed:
  • Price V. Fishback
  • Jessamyn Schaller
  • Evan J. Taylor

Abstract

New Deal programs provided relief jobs for millions of unemployed Americans. Although the federal government sought to prohibit racial discrimination, eligibility was determined by local administrators. Using the 1940 Census, we estimate county-level Black–White gaps in WPA employment. The estimates show that about 40% of Black male workers lived in counties where their rate of work relief employment was the same or higher than similar White male workers, including 24% in the South. Black workers’ relative access to work relief was higher where the White unemployment rate was lower and where local governments had more resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Price V. Fishback & Jessamyn Schaller & Evan J. Taylor, 2024. "Local Administration and Racial Inequality in Federal Program Access: Insights from New Deal Work Relief," NBER Working Papers 32681, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32681
    Note: DAE LS PE POL
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets
    • J78 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Public Policy (including comparable worth)
    • N32 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N42 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-

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