The Significance of Segregation in the 21st Century

Authors: Ingrid Gould Ellen, Justin P. Steil, Jorge De la Roca

Researchers have vigorously debated the significance of the reductions in residential seg- regation by race that U.S. metropolitan areas have experienced. While some argue that we have witnessed the “end of the segregated century” (Vigdor and Glaeser 2012; Vigdor 2013), others highlight the persistence of high levels of segregation in many areas (e.g., Logan 2013). There has been far less debate about the relationship between segregation and access to opportunity in the 21st century. Yet such exploration is critical to a richer understanding of the significance of segregation.