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The Coevolution of Segregation, Polarized Beliefs, and Discrimination: The Case of Private versus State Education

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  • Gilat Levy
  • Ronny Razin

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the coevolution of segregation into private and state schools, beliefs about the educational merits of different schools, and labor market discrimination. In a dynamic model, we characterize a necessary and sufficient condition on initial levels of segregation and beliefs under which full polarization of beliefs and long-run labor market discrimination are sustainable. The model suggests a new perspective on the long-term effects of different policy interventions, such as integration, school vouchers and policies that are directly targeted toward influencing beliefs.

Suggested Citation

  • Gilat Levy & Ronny Razin, 2017. "The Coevolution of Segregation, Polarized Beliefs, and Discrimination: The Case of Private versus State Education," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 141-170, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmic:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:141-70
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/mic.20160201
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    Cited by:

    1. Joao Firmino & Luis C. Nunes & Silvia de Almeida & Susana Batista, 2020. "Student segregation across and within schools. The case of the Portuguese public school system," Nova SBE Working Paper Series wp633, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics.
    2. Levy, Gilat & Razin, Ronny, 2019. "Echo chambers and their effects on economic and political outcomes," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101413, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Lisa Windsteiger, 2018. "Sorting in the Presence of Misperceptions," Working Papers tax-mpg-rps-2018-08, Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance.
    4. Ruzzier, Christian A. & Woo, Marcelo D., 2023. "Discrimination with inaccurate beliefs and confirmation bias," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 379-390.
    5. Windsteiger, Lisa, 2022. "The redistributive consequences of segregation and misperceptions," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    6. Parimal K. Bag & Bibhas Saha & Shiva Sikdar, 2021. "Prejudice, bias and identity neutral policy," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 56(1), pages 173-203, January.
    7. Levy, Gilat & Razin, Ronny, 2018. "Immigration into Prejudiced Societies: Segregation and Echo Chambers effects," CEPR Discussion Papers 12630, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Lisa Windsteiger, 2021. "Monopolistic supply of sorting, inequality, and welfare," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 23(5), pages 801-821, October.
    9. Meng, Delong, 2021. "Learning from like-minded people," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 231-250.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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