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"Workhorses of Opportunity": Regional Universities Increase Local Social Mobility

Author

Listed:
  • Howard, Greg

    (University of Illinois)

  • Weinstein, Russell

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

Regional public universities educate approximately 70 percent of college students at four-year public universities and an even larger share of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They aim to provide opportunity for education and social mobility, in part by locating near potential students. In this paper, we use the historical assignment of normal schools and insane asylums (normal schools grew into regional universities while asylums remain small) and data from Opportunity Insights to identify the effects of regional universities on the social mobility of nearby children. Children in counties given a normal school get more education and have better economic and social outcomes, especially lower-income children. For several key outcomes, we show this effect is a causal effect on children, and not only selection on which children live near universities.

Suggested Citation

  • Howard, Greg & Weinstein, Russell, 2022. ""Workhorses of Opportunity": Regional Universities Increase Local Social Mobility," IZA Discussion Papers 15622, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15622
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Luisa Gagliardi & Enrico Moretti & Michel Serafinelli, 2023. "The World’s Rust Belts: The Heterogeneous Effects of Deindustrialization on 1,993 Cities in Six Countries," NBER Working Papers 31948, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Luisa Gagliardi,, "undated". "The World’s Rust Belts: The Heterogeneous Effects of Deindustrialization on 1,993 Cities in Six Countries," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2317, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic mobility; regional universities; college attendance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • R53 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Public Facility Location Analysis; Public Investment and Capital Stock

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