Structural Racism in the United States Economy: A Systems-Level Analysis of Institutional Inequality

Structural racism within the United States economy is produced through a coordinated system of policies, institutional practices, and governance structures that limit economic mobility for Black Americans. This study presents a comprehensive, systems-level analysis of how structural racism operates across nine sectors including housing, financial markets, labor markets, education, entrepreneurship, environmental and infrastructural systems, and macroeconomic policy. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship from economics, public policy, sociology, and urban studies, the study demonstrates that racial disparities in wealth, employment, credit access, and community conditions are not isolated outcomes but interconnected features of institutional design. Using a scholar–practitioner framework, the analysis identifies the mechanisms through which structural inequalities persist and proposes an integrated policy model for federal and state reform. The findings underscore the need for long-term, equity-centered governance that aligns legislative intervention, institutional accountability, and cross-sector coordination. This study contributes to the public policy literature by clarifying how systemic reforms can reduce entrenched racial economic inequality and strengthen institutional legitimacy.