The Racial Alchemy of Debt

Identifacation and analysis of the impact government shutdowns have on small and socially disadvantaged businesses and how to ameliorate them

“…It is axiomatic that economic wealth from such sources as earnings and inter-generational gifts from parent to child is fundamental to improving one's security, mobility, and lifestyle opportunities, which, in turn, gives rise to access to better education, healthcare, and living conditions. (Harris & Wertz, 2022). Unfortunately, "… racial wealth gaps (in the United States) continue to persist-threatening the economic security of impacted families and weakening the economy as a whole" (Harris & Wertz, 2022, p 1).…”

“…We must recognize the pernicious long-term consequences of such institutional poverty for all of us, not just for those most directly affected by it. We must do what we can to address its systemic causes by making judicious policy choices to ameliorate them, such as ensuring fair access for all to both adequate housing and education, equal access to hiring and training opportunities, and equal treatment for minority entrepreneurs in labor and financial markets (Harris & Wertz, 2022). Moreover, this study explores whether government shutdowns due to untimely Congressional action on annual appropriations disparately impacts small and socially disadvantaged businesses performing government contracts, calling for consideration of policy choices to ameliorate that impact.…”