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

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.