Does the identity of leaders matter for education? Evidence from the first black governor in the US
Ferrando,Mery Gille,Véronique
Ferrando,Mery
Gille,Véronique
Abstract
Can role models from the same group enhance educational outcomes of disadvantaged minority students? We analyze the election of Douglas Wilder in Virginia in 1989, who was the first Black American to serve as governor in the US. Results from a triple difference and an event-study approach demonstrate increased educational attainment among Black individuals in Virginia after the election. Using an original survey and secondary data, we provide suggestive evidence that a role model effect may be driving these results. Our findings thus suggest that increasing exposure to Black politicians in high-profile positions might contribute to narrowing the White-Black gap in education in the US.
Description
Date
2025-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Education, Identity, Minority, Political leaders, Role model, I24 - Education and Inequality, D01 - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles, O51 - U.S. ; Canada
Citation
Ferrando, M & Gille, V 2025, 'Does the identity of leaders matter for education? Evidence from the first black governor in the US', Labour Economics, vol. 96, 102749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2025.102749
License
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess