The study, titled “The Business Case for Racial Equity,” was conducted with the institute and scholars from Johns Hopkins, Brandeis, and Harvard universities and demonstrates how “race, class, residential segregation and income levels all work together to hamper access to opportunity.”

Surprised not to have heard about the findings? Lead author Ani Turner of the Altarun Institute is right there with you.

“I was expecting it to get more attention as well, the numbers are so startling,” says Turner. “We all understand that removing barriers to racial equity is the right thing to do, but…(doing so doesn’t just) benefit those who are currently being disadvantaged.”

Addressing factors such as health care inequities, unjustified incarceration disparities, and lesser employment and education opportunities would generate 12 percent more annual U.S. earnings, the study found.

Among the more striking findings cited are a U.S. Department of Commerce study estimating that minority purchasing power would increase from $4.3 trillion to $6.1 trillion in 2045 if income inequalities were eliminated. Research also indicated that “businesses with a more diverse workforce have more customers, higher revenues and profits, greater market share, less absenteeism and turnover, and a higher level of commitment to their organization.”

By closing the earnings gap through higher productivity, the nation’s gross domestic product would improve substantially.

“The earnings gain would translate into $180 million in additional corporate profits, $290 billion in additional federal tax revenues, and a potential reduction in the federal deficit of $350 billion, or 2.3 percent of the GDP.”

Among the remedies offered are an emphasis on minority home ownership in neighborhoods with increasing values, as well as school desegregation, drug law reform, and the sort of early health intervention programs the Affordable Care Act would deliver to participating states.

Turner stops short of calling the findings a road map to prosperity. They do not, for example, take into account income generators that critics consider racially exploitative, such as the prison industry or college football’s unpaid workforce. The Kellogg study opts to focus on racial inequity in arenas such as education and health care, where leveling the playing field creates inarguable gains.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/racism-literally-costs-america-2-trillion-ready-stop-002225118.html. To download the actual report, click here: http://altarum.org/publications/the-business-case-for-racial-equity.