How do Americans choose their neighborhood, job, or candidate when personal interests diverge from group interests?

The Problem: Growing inequality within racial groups raises questions about whether individuals prioritize collective or individual benefits. Previous research focused primarily on voting patterns without examining how education influences daily life choices.

Our Approach: We analyzed nationally representative survey data alongside a novel survey experiment that manipulated incentives for leaving one's racial environment.

Key Findings: Higher education significantly increases the likelihood of Black and Latino Americans prioritizing personal interests over group ones, but this effect was not observed among White Americans. This educational divide appears to further stratify voting patterns and residential/career choices within racial communities.

Why It Matters: These findings highlight how formal education creates a tension between collective identity and individual advancement that differs across racial groups, with important implications for understanding ongoing inequality debates in the US.