Does School Desegregation Promote Diverse Interactions? An Equilibrium Model of Segregation within Schools

Angelo Mele

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2020, vol. 12, issue 2, 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.

JEL-codes: H75 I21 I28 J15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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DOI: 10.1257/pol.20170604

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