Race, Police Violence, and Financial Decision-Making

Abstract

We find an economically and statistically significant effect of race-based police violence on home ownership and retirement savings. Using restricted-use Panel Study of Income Dynamics data, we show that Black individuals exposed to the fatality of a Black person caused by or involving police subsequently experience decreased homeownership, home equity, and defined contribution pension participation relative to non-Black individuals in the same zip code. Our findings suggest that race-based violence affects not only those immediately involved but also entire racial communities in the vicinity. These decreases in illiquid assets imply negative long-term consequences for Black households' wealth accumulation.