White Response to Neighborhood Racial Change

Abstract

In this study of ten cities, data for tracts that underwent racial transition were employed. Normal household turnover rates were predicted on the basis of nonracial housing and demographic characteristics. It was found that the white population of these tracts exhibited abnormally high household turnovers, indicating “white flight” from changing areas. The in-migration of whites was found to fall short of both the level necessary to replace those whites who actually moved out, and the level needed to replace whites who would have moved under conditions of racial stability.