Elections that inspire: Effects of Black mayors on educational attainment
Abstract
We study the impact of the election of a Black mayor in Brazil on Black students’ educational attainment. Using a regression discontinuity design in close elections, we find that Black students in municipalities where Black candidates won are more likely to register for the National High School Examination, attend university, and graduate. Our evidence is consistent with changes in students’ aspirations: secondary/tertiary education is not a mayor’s primary responsibility; Black mayors do not perform better in policies that affect our outcomes; and effects are strong for Black students from both public and private schools, while weaker for White students from public schools.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Critical Race Theory in Education
School Choice and Performance
Electoral Systems and Political Participation
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Public Economics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 257
- Pages
- 105639–105639
- Publication date
- 3 April 2026
- Language
- EN