Journal of Economics and Development Studies

What Isthe Intent of Davis-Bacon Act: Aninference By Means of Cluster Statistical Method?
Keren Sun

Abstract
The Davis-Bacon Actwaspassed in 1931, Armond Thieblot (1975) put forward a new point of view, i.e. at least in part, the Davis-Bacon Act was motivated by racial bigotry. Thieblot’s point of view resulted in controversy, formed a bipartisan view, and is still in dispute.This article uses clustering statistical method to cluster the data on the occupational status of the Whites and the Blacks of construction industry of Virginia in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1920, and 1928, divides the occupational status of the Whites and the Blacks of construction industryinto fivegroups, then, the characteristics of these five occupational groupshave been analyzed, further, the relationship between the Whites & the Blacks’ employment rate and average wage level in these five occupational groups have been studied. The study shows that the change in wage levels is not a means to control the employment rate of the Black, and it is inferred that the intent for the enacting of the Davis-Bacon Act is not out of racial bigotry, but of job protection under the premise of maintaining existing local standards.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jeds.v8n2a2