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Title: Economic and Social Integration of Minorities: The Effect of WWII on Racial Segregation

Citation Type: Conference Paper

Publication Year: 2017

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Abstract: This paper shows that the significant switch of black workers from low- to semiskilled occupations after WWII in the U.S. is causally related to casualties sustained by each state and county during the war. Difference-in-differences regressions estimate that a one standard deviation increase in the casualty rate among semi-skilled whites increases blacks probability of being employed in semi-skilled manufacturing jobs by 7 p.p., and raises the share of blacks in semi-skilled occupations by 1.6 p.p. Using data from the Negro Political Participation Study of 1961 and instrumenting the change in the share of blacks in semi-skilled jobs from 1940 to 1950 with the casualty rate, IV regressions find a significant and positive impact of the skill upgrade of blacks on their social standing and political participation. Individuals living in counties with a stronger casualty induced skill upgrade of blacks have a higher probability for interracial friendships and interracial friendships formed at work, stronger preferences for integration over separation, as well as increased political participation by and reduced repercussions for political activity of blacks.

Url: http://conference.iza.org/conference_files/SUM_2017/ferrara_a25005.pdf

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Authors: Ferrara, Andreas

Conference Name: 20th IZA Summer School in Labor Economics

Publisher Location: Buch/Ammersee, Germany

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Race and Ethnicity

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