Current Research

My research investigates patterns of social inequality, especially racial/ethnic and economic inequality, with a focus on education, neighborhoods, housing, and social policy. I primarily use quantitative methods to analyze large administrative or survey datasets, though I also work in other methodologies.

Current projects include:

1. The Segregation Index: Launched in May 2022, the Segregation Index (segindex.org) will be a primary source of information about neighborhood and school segregation for scholars, policymakers, journalists, and the public. Our first research brief shows that racial/ethnic and economic segregation between schools increased in large districts since 1991. School and neighbohrood segregation databases will be published soon. Co-PIs: Ann Owens and sean f. reardon. We are grateful to the Russell Sage Foundation for support. 

2. An investigation of the use of "opportunity" metrics in housing policy as a strategy for reducing inequality in youths' outcomes: Where kids grow up matter for their futures, and high and rising housing costs mean that many low-income families are priced out of neighborhoods that may provide more resources for child development. In this mixed methods project, I examine the use of California's Opportunity Map and incentives to build Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units in higher-resource areas.  Our analysis of the LIHTC program from 2018 to 2021 (described here) shows that the policy changes appear to have been effective: the number of funded affordable housing units for families with children in higher-resource areas increased by over 60%. Currently, I am conducting qualitative interviews with housing developers to understand how they navigate the various and sometimes conflicting regulations and incentives in the LIHTC program and the implications of their decision-making for the location of affordable housing. This work is funded by a William T Grant Foundation Scholars award.

 

Working papers available upon request include an article on the theoretical and empirical connections between neighborhoods and schools , with Peter M. Rich, in preparation for the Annual Review of Sociology; an article articulating the two distinct components to income segregation—separation and inequality—and how each matter for educational inequalities; and assorted other things you might find interesting