Measuring the Effects of Segregation in the Presence of Social Spillovers: A Nonparametric Approach

60 Pages Posted: 1 Nov 2010 Last revised: 30 Jan 2023

See all articles by Bryan S. Graham

Bryan S. Graham

University of California, Berkeley - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Guido W. Imbens

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Geert Ridder

University of Southern California

Date Written: October 2010

Abstract

In this paper we nonparametrically analyze the effects of reallocating individuals across social groups in the presence of social spillovers. Individuals are either 'high' or 'low' types. Own outcomes may vary with the fraction of high types in one's social group. We characterize the average outcome and inequality effects of small increases in segregation by type. We also provide a measure of average spillover strength. We generalize the setup used by Benabou (1996) and others to study sorting in the presence of social spillovers by incorporating unobserved individual- and group-level heterogeneity. We relate our reallocation estimands to this theory. For each estimand we provide conditions for nonparametric identification, propose estimators, and characterize their large sample properties. We also consider the social planner's problem. We illustrate our approach by studying the effects of sex segregation in classrooms on mathematics achievement.

Suggested Citation

Graham, Bryan S. and Imbens, Guido W. and Ridder, Geert, Measuring the Effects of Segregation in the Presence of Social Spillovers: A Nonparametric Approach (October 2010). NBER Working Paper No. w16499, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1699579

Bryan S. Graham (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - Department of Economics ( email )

549 Evans Hall #3880
Berkeley, CA 94720-3880
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Guido W. Imbens

Stanford Graduate School of Business ( email )

655 Knight Way
Stanford, CA 94305-5015
United States

Geert Ridder

University of Southern California ( email )

Kaprielian Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90089
United States
213-740-2110 (Phone)
213-740-8543 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
39
Abstract Views
584
PlumX Metrics