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 2.2 percent increase in the probability of being registered to vote seven years later and to a 2.6 percent higher probability of voting 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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Place of Publication | Bonn |
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Publisher | IZA |
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Number of pages | 58 |
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Publication status | Published - 2021 |
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Series | IZA Discussion Paper Series |
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Number | 14140 |
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- 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"
- voting behavior
- school-cohort racial diversity
- peers