Abstract
Using a representative longitudinal survey of U.S. teenagers, we investigate how peer racial composition in high school affects individual turnout of young adults. We exploit across-cohort, within-school differences in peer racial composition. One within-school standard deviation increase in the racial diversity index leads to a 2.3 percent increase in the probability to be registered to vote seven years later and to a 2.6 percent higher probability to vote six years later. These effects are likely due to positive interracial contact when socialization has long-lasting effects: higher racial diversity in school is linked to more interracial friendships in school and later on.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 102486 |
Number of pages | 25 |
Journal | Economics of Education Review |
Volume | 97 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2023 |
JEL classifications
- d72 - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
- i24 - Education and Inequality
- j15 - "Economics of Minorities, Races, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination"
Keywords
- Peers
- School-cohort racial diversity
- Voting behavior