Wealth, Human Capital and Family across Racial/Ethnic Groups: Integrating Models of Wealth and Locational Attainment

Abstract

This is a US investigation of the relationship between individuals' neighbourhood characteristics and their familial and socioeconomic resources—with special emphasis on wealth. Spatial assimilation theorists propose that racial/ethnic differences in where people live can be explained by the demographic, economic and familial characteristics of individuals, while place stratification theorists argue that group differences in neighbourhood characteristics are not fully explained by personal resources. There is evidence for the persisting effects of race/ethnicity on locational attainment, but support is also found for wealth influences on locational attainment. In addition, there is evidence of an interaction effect between race and wealth in predicting neighbourhood racial composition and neighbourhood SES, but the nature of the interaction varies by group and outcome.