Policy Briefs

New Evidence on Trickle-Down and Trickle-Up Influences in Civic Education and Engagement

New Evidence on Trickle-Down and Trickle-Up Influences in Civic Education and Engagement uses K-12, birth, and voting records for over 580,000 students to compile descriptive evidence on how trickle-down and trickle-up socialization influences civic engagement.

Findings

    • There is evidence of significant trickle-down (mother-to-child) and trickle-up (child-to-mother) relationships in civic engagement.
    • Trickle-down relationships appear strongest for white students and students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
    • Trickle-up relationships appear strongest for non-white students and students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
    • These estimates are statistically significant and often substantial.

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Kirsten Slungaard Mumma | Policy brief author

Kirsten Slungaard Mumma is assistant professor of Economics and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds an A.B., an Ed.M., and a Ph.D., all from Harvard. Her research is in the economics of education. She studies how education programs and policies affect the economic, social, and political outcomes of children and adults.

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Liam Julian | Director of Public Policy

Liam Julian is director of public policy for the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy. He previously oversaw curriculum development for the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) program. From 2006 to 2013, he was a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

For more information about this policy brief, contact him at ljulian@oconnorinstitute.org

Press Release: Premier Study Finds New Evidence of Both Mother-to-Child (Trickle-Down) and Child-to-Mother (Trickle-Up) Relationships in Civic Education and EngagementÂ