Public Policy Issues in the Quota Controversy

Abstract

The quota controversy is a highly emotional one. Many whites fear that quotas mean the end of the merit system. Minorities previously denied access to mainstream institutions feel that they should be put in the position they would have reached, but for discrimination, as quickly as possible. Men fear that jobs previously reserved for them will be overrun by women, and so on. As I shall illustrate shortly, however, when the issues are viewed in terms of concrete situations, rather than in the abstract, the areas of disagreement narrow, and it usually becomes unnecessary to resolve the broad general issues concerning quotas, goals, or other preferential treatment.