Data and Code for: Dividing Lines: Racial Segregation across Local Government Boundaries

We describe the empirical relationship between local government boundaries and residential segregation in the US. First, we study recent changes in the distribution of segregation within and between local governments in all metropolitan areas, using census block data on residential demographics over the period 1990-2020. We find that segregation across local government boundaries explains a substantial share of racial stratification, which has changed only little over the last thirty years. Next, we use spatial regression discontinuity methods to distinguish between household sorting due to neighborhood amenities and public goods provided by local governments. The prevalence of demographic discontinuities at local government boundaries suggest that between-jurisdiction segregation patterns cannot be explained solely by proximity to neighborhood amenities. We discuss implications for policy, showing that both between-jurisdiction segregation and jurisdictional discontinuities can partly explain the correlation between total segregation and racial gaps in educational outcomes.

本研究阐述了美国地方政府辖区边界与居住隔离之间的经验关联。首先，本研究借助1990年至2020年的居住人口统计特征普查街区数据，考察全美所有大都市区内地方政府辖区内部及辖区之间的隔离分布近年变化。研究发现，地方政府辖区边界间的隔离可解释绝大部分种族分层现象，且近三十年来这一格局几乎未发生显著变化。其次，本研究采用空间回归断点方法，区分由社区配套设施引发的家庭选址行为与地方政府提供的公共物品所产生的影响。地方政府辖区边界处普遍存在人口统计特征断点，这表明辖区间的隔离模式无法仅通过社区配套设施的邻近性予以解释。本研究还探讨了该发现的政策启示，结果显示辖区间隔离与辖区边界断点均能部分解释整体隔离与教育结果种族差距之间的相关性。