The Impact of Black Mayors on Urban Policy

This article is an exploratory assessment of whether or not black mayors, as compared to white mayors, demonstrate patterned differences in their policy preferences and expenditures. It is hypothesized that black mayors are inclined to spend more on welfare related items than on other budgetary items. Employing urban expenditure data over time in six cities and focusing upon seven expenditure categories, it is found that, as a rule, black mayors do not differ greatly from white mayors in the way they spend. However, their preferences do seem to differ. Black mayors, even when they would like to, are constrained from spending according to their preferences. It is argued that differences in expenditure patterns are highly conditioned by environmental and structural factors. Suggestions are made for further research.