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Effects of federal socioeconomic contracting preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Grant H. Lewis

    (George Mason University)

Abstract

The 8(a) business development program supports small disadvantaged U.S. federal contractors through benefits such as set-aside and sole-source contracts, management and technical assistance, and mentor-protégé relationships with established firms. This study examines the effectiveness of the 8(a) program at producing positive firm-level outcomes by comparing 8(a) firms with those participating in other preferential contracting programs with different benefits. The average 8(a) program participant performs well relative to baseline firms that do not receive contracting preferences; however, these effects are driven directly by funding and not by broader stimulation of sound business practices as intended by program designers. Program participants perform similarly to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, which benefit from comparable contract preferences but none of the mentorship, administrative support and management assistance offered to 8(a) firms. While growing at similar rates, 8(a) firms are substantially more likely to go out of business than firms in this comparison group.

Suggested Citation

  • Grant H. Lewis, 2017. "Effects of federal socioeconomic contracting preferences," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 763-783, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:49:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-017-9860-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-017-9860-z
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurship; Firm sales; Firm size; National subsidies; Policy; Public economics; Public expenditure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • H57 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Procurement
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L53 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Enterprise Policy

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