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does the river spill over? estimating the economic returns to attending a racially diverse college

Publication ,  Journal Article
Arcidiacono, P; Vigdor, JL
Published in: Economic Inquiry
July 1, 2010

This article evaluates the frequently argued but heretofore little tested hypothesis that increasing minority representation in elite colleges generates tangible benefits for majority-race students. Using data on graduates of 30 selective universities, we find only weak evidence of any relationship between collegiate racial composition and the postgraduation outcomes of white or Asian students. Moreover, the strongest evidence we uncover suggests that increasing minority representation by lowering admission standards is unlikely to produce benefits and may in fact cause harm by reducing the representation of minority students on less selective campuses. While affirmative action may still be desirable for the benefits it conveys to minority students, these results provide little support for " spillover" effects on majority-race students. (JEL I2, J15, J24). [T]he attainment of a diverse student body is a constitutionally permissible goal for an institution of higher education. The atmosphere of 'speculation, experiment and creation'-so essential to the quality of higher education-is widely believed to be promoted by a diverse student body.-Lewis Powell, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (438 U.S. 265, 1978, pp. 311-12, quoting Sweezy v. New Hampshire, 354 U.S. 234, 1957, p. 263). © 2009 Western Economic Association International.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Economic Inquiry

DOI

EISSN

1465-7295

ISSN

0095-2583

Publication Date

July 1, 2010

Volume

48

Issue

3

Start / End Page

537 / 557

Related Subject Headings

  • Economics
  • 3803 Economic theory
  • 3802 Econometrics
  • 3801 Applied economics
  • 14 Economics
 

Citation

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Arcidiacono, P., & Vigdor, J. L. (2010). does the river spill over? estimating the economic returns to attending a racially diverse college. Economic Inquiry, 48(3), 537–557. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-7295.2009.00236.x
Arcidiacono, P., and J. L. Vigdor. “does the river spill over? estimating the economic returns to attending a racially diverse college.” Economic Inquiry 48, no. 3 (July 1, 2010): 537–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-7295.2009.00236.x.
Arcidiacono P, Vigdor JL. does the river spill over? estimating the economic returns to attending a racially diverse college. Economic Inquiry. 2010 Jul 1;48(3):537–57.
Arcidiacono, P., and J. L. Vigdor. “does the river spill over? estimating the economic returns to attending a racially diverse college.” Economic Inquiry, vol. 48, no. 3, July 2010, pp. 537–57. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1465-7295.2009.00236.x.
Arcidiacono P, Vigdor JL. does the river spill over? estimating the economic returns to attending a racially diverse college. Economic Inquiry. 2010 Jul 1;48(3):537–557.
Journal cover image

Published In

Economic Inquiry

DOI

EISSN

1465-7295

ISSN

0095-2583

Publication Date

July 1, 2010

Volume

48

Issue

3

Start / End Page

537 / 557

Related Subject Headings

  • Economics
  • 3803 Economic theory
  • 3802 Econometrics
  • 3801 Applied economics
  • 14 Economics