Racial stratification in the actuation of mobility expectations: Microlevel impacts of racially restrictive housing markets

This research uses data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine racial differences in the ability to translate mobility expectations into a residential move. The results indicate that, despite similar mobility expe ctations, black householders are significantly less likely than white house holders to translate their expectations into a residential move. Supportind the stratification perspective, this racial difference persists when a var iety of individual and contextual characteristics are controlled. Furthermo re, higher income appears to enhance the ability of white but not black hou seholders to convert their mobility expectations into a move. Supplemental analyses suggest that this racial stratification does not reflect poorer pl anning on the part of blacks and that thia racial disparity helps to explai n existind racial differences in the ability to escape poor neighborhoods.