<p>I agree that the social impact should be considered, but this cuts both ways. Having a program that clearly gives a boost based on race conveys the impression that black people (e.g.) can’t make it on their own with the same standards. It also encourages a culture of entitlement – India’s affirmative action programs have been a disaster for this reason.</p>
<p>I think it’s an open empirical question whether the role-model social effect helps more than the lowering-standards social effect hurts. That would be an interesting subject to study further.</p>