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 | Vice President, Programs & Public Policy

Liam Julian is Vice President of Programs & 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