American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
Does School Desegregation Promote Diverse Interactions? An Equilibrium Model of Segregation within Schools
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 12,
no. 2, May 2020
(pp. 228–57)
Abstract
This paper studies racial segregation in schools using data on student friendships from Add Health. I estimate an equilibrium model of friendship formation, with preferences allowing both homophily and heterophily in direct and indirect ties. I find that homophily goes beyond direct links: students also prefer racially homogeneous indirect friends, while there is heterophily in income. I simulate policies reallocating students across schools. Race-based policies have nonlinear effects on within-school segregation and other network features such as clustering and centrality. Policies increasing diversity through reallocations based on income have less impact on racial segregation.Citation
Mele, Angelo. 2020. "Does School Desegregation Promote Diverse Interactions? An Equilibrium Model of Segregation within Schools." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 12 (2): 228–57. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20170604Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H75 State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions
- I21 Analysis of Education
- I28 Education: Government Policy
- J15 Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination