Diversity and Public Goods: a Natural Experiment with Exogeneous Residential Allocation

Yann Algan, David Laitin and Hémet, Camille
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Camille HEMET

No 8621, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This paper demonstrates the effects of ethnic and religious diversity on the quality of public spaces. Its identification strategy relies on the exogeneity of public housing allocations in France, and thereby eliminates the bias from endogenous sorting. The paper uses micro evidence of social interactions within housing blocks from the representative French Housing survey, which allows for a detailed identification of the channels through which diversity operates. Differentiating among three channels of public goods provision, the paper finds that heterogeneity in the housing block leads to low levels of sanctions for anti-social behavior and low levels of collective action to improve housing conditions, but no losses in public safety.

Keywords: Discrimination; Fractionalization; Public good (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H10 H41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-soc and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Social Effects of Ethnic Diversity at the Local Level: A Natural Experiment with Exogenous Residential Allocation (2013)
Working Paper: The Social Effects of Ethnic Diversity at the Local Level: A Natural Experiment with Exogenous Residential Allocation (2013)
Working Paper: Diversity and Public Goods: A Natural Experiment with Exogenous Residential Allocation (2011)
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