Critics of affirmative action policies contend that the elimination of racial preferences in college admissions would lead to a “more-able” student body. In a system in which other non-meritocratic elements other than race play an important role there is no reason to think that the slot filled by the race-preferred candidate will be filled by another candidate of higher “quality.”

Citation
Glen O. Robinson & Dennis L. Weisman, Eliminating Racial Preferences in College Admissions, Economist’s Voice (June, 2012).