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The long-term effects of forcible assimilation policy: The case of Indian boarding schools

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  • Donna L. Feir

Abstract

For decades in North America and Australia, Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in boarding schools. These schools had the stated goal of cultural assimilation and are perceived as educational failures. I offer the first causal evidence on the long-run effects of these schools. I identify these effects using the interaction of changes in Canadian national policy and regional variation in the power of the Catholic Church. I find that the average boarding school had substantial effects on both cultural and economic assimilation. However, I find suggestive evidence this is not true for highly abusive schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Donna L. Feir, 2016. "The long-term effects of forcible assimilation policy: The case of Indian boarding schools," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 49(2), pages 433-480, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:cje:issued:v:49:y:2016:i:2:p:433-480
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12203
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    Cited by:

    1. Alston, Eric & Crepelle, Adam & Law, Wilson & Murtazashvili, Ilia, 2021. "The chronic uncertainty of American Indian property rights," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(3), pages 473-488, June.
    2. Akee, Randall K. Q. & Feir, Donn. L. & Gorzig, Marina Mileo & Myers Jr, Samuel, 2022. "Native American 'Deaths of Despair' and Economic Conditions," IZA Discussion Papers 15546, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Aragón, Fernando M., 2015. "Do better property rights improve local income?: Evidence from First Nations' treaties," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 43-56.
    4. Pedro Dal Bó & Carolina Lopez, 2024. "The Socioeconomic Outcomes of Native Groups in Argentina," NBER Working Papers 32704, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Donn Feir & M. Chris Auld, 2017. "The Effect of Indian Residential Schools on Height and Body Mass Post-1930," Department Discussion Papers 1703, Department of Economics, University of Victoria.
    6. Krishna Pendakur & Ravi Pendakur, 2018. "The Effects of Modern Treaties and Opt-In Legislation on Household Incomes in Aboriginal Communities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 137(1), pages 139-165, May.
    7. Donna Feir, 2015. "The Intergenerational Effect of Forcible Assimilation Policy on Education," Department Discussion Papers 1501, Department of Economics, University of Victoria.
    8. Wang, Shun & Zhou, Weina, 2017. "The Unintended Long-Term Consequences of Mao’s Mass Send-Down Movement: Marriage, Social Network, and Happiness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 344-359.
    9. Sascha O. Becker, 2022. "Forced displacement in history: Some recent research," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(1), pages 2-25, March.
    10. Button, Patrick & Walker, Brigham, 2020. "Employment discrimination against Indigenous Peoples in the United States: Evidence from a field experiment," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    11. Leonard, Bryan & Parker, Dominic P. & Anderson, Terry L., 2020. "Land quality, land rights, and indigenous poverty," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    12. Donn L Feir & Rob Gillezeau & Maggie E C Jones, 2024. "The Slaughter of the Bison and Reversal of Fortunes on the Great Plains," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 91(3), pages 1634-1670.
    13. Donna L. Feir & M. Christopher Auld, 2021. "Indian residential schools: Height and body mass post‐1930," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(1), pages 126-163, February.
    14. Inwood, Kris & Keay, Ian, 2024. "The physical well-being of Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest: Anthropometric evidence from British Columbia’s jails, 1864–1913," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    15. Miles Corak, 2016. "`Inequality is the root of social evil,' or Maybe Not? Two Stories about Inequality and Public Policy," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 42(4), pages 367-414, December.
    16. Randall Akee & Elton Mykerezi & Richard M. Todd, 2017. "Reservation Employer Establishments: Data from the U.S. Census Longitudinal Business Database," Working Papers 17-57, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    17. Adriana Lleras‐Muney, 2022. "Education and income gradients in longevity: The role of policy," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(1), pages 5-37, February.
    18. Ayesh, Abubakr & Hisam, Kulsoom & Lorenz, Aaron, 2025. "How Institutions and Bargaining Power shaped Indigenous Economies and Agriculture," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 360987, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    19. Gregg, Matthew T., 2018. "The long-term effects of American Indian boarding schools," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 17-32.
    20. De Luca, Giacomo & Montalbano, Andrea & Stillman, Steven, 2025. "Serving Countries, Shaping Views: Military Conscription and Attitude Towards Immigrants," IZA Discussion Papers 18003, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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