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School segregation and the identification of tipping behavior

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  • Caetano, Gregorio
  • Maheshri, Vikram

Abstract

We develop a method to empirically implement the Schelling model of segregation, and use it to study racial segregation in Los Angeles schools from 1995 to 2012. Our two-step method combines the estimation of parents' preferences for their children's peers with a counterfactual simulation analysis. We find substantial heterogeneity in the existence and locations of tipping points and stable equilibria. Schools are observed on equilibrium trajectories, but many remained out of equilibrium by 2012. We also introduce novel instrumental variables to identify preferences for endogenous peer groups that require no additional data and can be used in other educational settings.

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  • Caetano, Gregorio & Maheshri, Vikram, 2017. "School segregation and the identification of tipping behavior," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 115-135.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:148:y:2017:i:c:p:115-135
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2017.02.009
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    Cited by:

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    3. Aliprantis, Dionissi & Martin, Hal & Tauber, Kristen, 2024. "What determines the success of housing mobility programs?," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    4. Trevor Kollmann & Simone Marsiglio & Sandy Suardi & Marco Tolotti, 2021. "Social interactions, residential segregation and the dynamics of tipping," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 1355-1388, September.
    5. Merlino, Luca Paolo & Steinhardt, Max Friedrich & Wren-Lewis, Liam, 2024. "The long run impact of childhood interracial contact on residential segregation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    6. De Groote, Olivier & Rho, Minyoung, 2024. "Matching disadvantaged children to day care: Evidence from a centralized platform," TSE Working Papers 24-1600, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    7. Zhaohua Zhang & Derrick Robinson & Diane Hite, 2018. "Racial Residential Segregation: Measuring Location Choice Attributes of Environmental Quality and Self-Segregation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    8. Kollmann, Trevor & Marsiglio, Simone & Suardi, Sandy, 2018. "Racial segregation in the United States since the Great Depression: A dynamic segregation approach," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 95-116.
    9. Malone, Thom, 2020. "There goes the neighborhood does tipping exist amongst income groups?," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    10. Boustan, Leah & Cai, Christine & Tseng, Tammy, 2024. "JUE Insight: White flight from Asian immigration: Evidence from California Public Schools," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    11. Elster, Yael & Zussman, Noam, 2024. "Minorities and property values: Evidence from residential buildings in Israel," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Racial segregation; Schelling Model; School choice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I - Health, Education, and Welfare
    • J - Labor and Demographic Economics

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