Abstract
This paper compares the employment and activity outcomes of youths residing in a low-growth area to youths residing in a high-growth area within the Oakland Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area. Using data from the 5% Census Public Use Microdata Sample, I find that residing in a low-employment growth area has a strong negative effect on both the probability of being employed and the probability of being active, defined as being either employed or in school. The large adverse employment effect remains after controlling extensively for personal and family background characteristics. In separate race/ethnicity specific model estimations, differential effects of geography on youth outcomes are found for youths of different racial and ethnic groups.