Desegregation

The opposite of Axelrod's

Motivation

This document is a brainstorming exercise.
This is the natural flip-side to Axelrod's famous simulation, which shows that a preference for not being the minority in an area would produce stark inequality. The question is what forces would we need to add to reduce or eliminate segregation?

What is there of general sociological importance here? If it's just about understanding the (very specific) segregation case in the US, it's nothing. This should be something more broad.

(De-)segregation online seems much more important. And the major thrust is probably individuals believing it's important to desegregate (culturally, ethnically, across all boundaries), and the proper tools to make that happen. This isn't a simulation problem, it's a communication and technological problem (the logical progression being rather too clear).

Real-life cases

  • Cincinnatti
    • Subsidized and market-rate housing support mixed-income neighborhoods (e.g. Over-the-Rhine)
    • “Our generation is a little more come-together than the last generation, and you see that in the rallies and the events, people coming together, white, black, Hispanic, Asian, whatever. But there’s still some of that same segregated mindset from our parents and grandparents.”
  • Massey's list of hypersegregated cities included Cinci. There was a reaction to this list, policy initiatives combatting the problem.
  • The city that believed in desegregation (Louisville)
    • "countywide system of public schools that are truly unitary"
  • Another how to
    • changing zoning to expand affordable housing options beyond tall apartment buildings
  • Baltimore
    • incentives to developers, but it didn't get things built. soooooo

Misc links