“Cities too busy to hate”: Economic development through a diversity ideology lens

ABSTRACT

As economic inequality among racial and ethnic groups persists, debate continues about the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as guiding values to promote equitable economic growth and development. This project uses diversity ideology as a framework to examine how proposals for Amazon’s second headquarters (HQ2) reflect applicants’ beliefs and value systems around racial and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion. In our sample of 70 proposals, respondents layered four primary tactics: disregard, limited engagement, acknowledgment without culpability, and value claiming. Prominent approaches included avoidance of any discussion of diversity, objectification of racial and ethnic minority populations as an economic or cultural input, and the assertion a racially and ethnically diversity workforce is an attainable goal while utilizing stereotypes. Each of these approaches reflects different ways racial and ethnic minority populations remain marginalized within economic development proposals, even when firms actively solicit information on their presence and support.

KEYWORDS:

• Economic development
• place branding
• diversity ideology
• workforce diversity
• economic inequality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2022.2147076

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Danielle L. Spurlock

Danielle L. Spurlock is an Assistant Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Regional and City Planning Program at the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on the quality and implementation of plans and policy in urban contexts with special attention to environmental and social justice.

Adams G. Bailey

Adams G. Bailey is a PhD Candidate in Public Policy at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He focuses on regional economic development policy, science and technology policy, and regional ecosystems for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Matthew D. Wilson

Matthew D. Wilson is the Associate Director for Economic and Workforce Development at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research interests are in place-based economic development, neighborhood change and revitalization, labor markets, and job quality.