Changes in Brain Drain: Recent Trends in Educational Residential Segregation

• In Event: 1451 - Community and Urban Sociology Section Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 15. Socioeconomic Segregation

Abstract

In this paper I explore the state of brain drain in America, while conducting an initial analysis of relevant factors. I begin by measuring levels of educational residential segregation within the United States by using two indices of segregation at two geographic levels. With the use of Census data, this descriptive analysis covers all viable tracts within the nation. I then use OLS regression models to look at a set of factors associated with variation in educational segregation. Research into residential segregation has historically focused on racial segregation and has recently begun to look at segregation by class or socioeconomic status. While education is occasionally tied into definitions of class, I would argue that educational attainment has unique consequences that make it worthy of individual attention. Previous research has shown the trend in educational segregation to be different from that of class segregation. This research has also demonstrated a continuous increase in educational segregation among both counties and tracts within the U.S. (Domina 2006). This paper uses measures of two dimensions of segregation to explore the evenness in the distribution of groups and the likelihood of group interactions. I find that, beginning in 2000, these trends have changed by stagnating at their peak levels. Additionally, I find that unlike other forms of residential segregation, educationally based residential segregation is lower on average in urbanized areas and the association of average tract income consistently demonstrates the largest effect size while being negatively associated with measures of educational segregation.

Author

• Selena Margarita Livas, University of California, Irvine