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Does Unrestricted Public School Choice Increase Racial Segregation? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in New Orleans

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Enami, A. Does Unrestricted Public School Choice Increase Racial Segregation? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in New Orleans. Applied Economics Quarterly, 63(3), 275-294. https://doi.org/10.3790/aeq.63.3.275
Enami, Ali "Does Unrestricted Public School Choice Increase Racial Segregation? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in New Orleans" Applied Economics Quarterly 63.3, , 275-294. https://doi.org/10.3790/aeq.63.3.275
Enami, Ali: Does Unrestricted Public School Choice Increase Racial Segregation? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in New Orleans, in: Applied Economics Quarterly, vol. 63, iss. 3, 275-294, [online] https://doi.org/10.3790/aeq.63.3.275

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Does Unrestricted Public School Choice Increase Racial Segregation? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in New Orleans

Enami, Ali

Applied Economics Quarterly, Vol. 63 (2017), Iss. 3 : pp. 275–294

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Enami, Ali, Department of Economics, 206 Tilton Hall, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118. Tel. (330) 319 – 1246.

References

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Abstract

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of introducing unrestricted public school choice on racial segregation in these schools. Using educational reform in the public schools of post-Katrina New Orleans as a natural experiment, this study shows that removing traditional public school zones (i.⁠e. unrestricted choice) does not lead to additional racial segregation in public schools. The difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) approach of this paper accounts for the fact that the population of New Orleans may have changed (demographically and psychologically) because of the hurricane and disentangles the “reform effect” from the “hurricane effect”, a neglected bias that plagues previous studies of this reform.

JEL classifications: H75, I28, J18

Keywords: Unrestricted public school choice, racial segregation, New Orleans school reform, natural experiment, difference-in-difference-in-differences