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Title: A Culture of Despair? Inequality and Expectations of Educational Success
Resulting in 1 citation.
1. DeBacker, Jason M.
Routon, P. Wesley
A Culture of Despair? Inequality and Expectations of Educational Success
Contemporary Economic Policy published online (4 March 2021): DOI: 10.1111/coep.12528.
Also: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/coep.12528
Cohort(s): NLSY97
Publisher: Western Economic Association International
Keyword(s): Educational Aspirations/Expectations; Educational Outcomes; Expectations/Intentions; Socioeconomic Status (SES)

A culture of despair represents a negative feedback loop, where perceptions of high economic inequality result in declines in expectations of future success and, in turn, lower probabilities of favorable outcomes. We focus on the first link in that proposed causal chain, the relationship between economic inequality and expectations. Using a panel of youths and geographic variation in inequality, we find a link between inequality and expectations regarding educational outcomes. Our findings show that youth of low socioeconomic status (SES) are negatively affected by inequality. In short, we find support for the theory of a culture of despair.
Bibliography Citation
DeBacker, Jason M. and P. Wesley Routon. "A Culture of Despair? Inequality and Expectations of Educational Success." Contemporary Economic Policy published online (4 March 2021): DOI: 10.1111/coep.12528.