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Abstract

The effects of residential location at age 16 and current residential location on measures of educational attainment are estimated. Particular attention is given to the effects of migration and family background on educational outcomes. It is shown that central cities and suburbs of large metropolitan areas in the United States have significantly higher levels of educational attainment. The reasons for this include migration of more highly educated individuals to large metropolitan areas and family background factors that are more favorable to higher levels of educational attainment in large urban areas. It is also shown that although urban advantages in schooling for respondents at age 16 have declined over time, urban advantages for respondents when they are older have increased. Data from the National Opinion Research Center’s General Social Survey are used.

Keywords

educational attainment residential location urban settings

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Educational Attainment and Residential Location

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