Working Paper: NBER ID: w24764
Authors: Katherine Eriksson; Zachary A. Ward
Abstract: We provide the first estimates of ethnic segregation between 1850 and 1940 that cover the entire United States and are consistent across time and space. To do so, we adapt the Logan-Parman method to immigrants by measuring segregation based on the nativity of the next-door neighbor. In addition to providing a consistent measure of segregation, we also document new patterns such as the high levels of segregation in rural areas, in small factory towns and for non-European sources. Early 20th century immigrants spatially assimilated at a slow rate, leaving immigrants’ lived experience distinct from natives for decades after arrival.
Keywords: Ethnic segregation; Immigrants; Historical census; Spatial assimilation
JEL Codes: F22; J61; N31
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Immigrants are not randomly distributed (J61) | Clustering of immigrants (J61) |
| Clustering of immigrants (J61) | Segregation from native-born populations (J15) |
| Geographic distribution of immigrants (J61) | Level of segregation (R28) |
| Economic and social benefits of enclaves (O17) | Segregation (R28) |
| Slow spatial assimilation of immigrants (J69) | Segregation levels (R28) |
| Segregation of southern and eastern Europeans decreased (J69) | Comparison to third-generation natives (J69) |