Neighborhood racial change, segregationist sentiments, and affirmative marketing policies

An econometric model of 1970–1980 neighborhood racial changes is estimated for census tracts in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Ohio. Results indicate that 1970 tract percentage black, interacted with estimated segregationist sentiment for white residents, is the dominant explanatory variable, with its maximum marginal impact on loss of whites occurring at 35% black. Proximity to majority black tracts and intensity of white segregationist sentiments are also strongly associated with large variations in decadal racial changes. These racial contextual factors both abet white out-migration and deter white in-migration. “Affirmative marketing” policies conducted by the Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights jurisdictions resulted in greater integration of initially all-white areas and less racial change in substantially integrated areas.