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The impact of affirmative action: Evidence from a cross-country laboratory experiment

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  • Dulleck, Uwe
  • He, Yumei
  • Kidd, Michael P.
  • Silva-Goncalves, Juliana

Abstract

We use an implicit association test to examine whether there is evidence of a negative stereotype, with Australians relatively weak in mathematical skills vis a vis Chinese. Based on an existing stereotype, we examine the impact of affirmative action on the effort level of Australians (the favoured group) within the context of a cross-country (Australia and China) laboratory experiment. We compare results across two distinct affirmative action programs; one in which a well-established negative stereotype exists and a baseline where no known stereotype prevails. We find that the effort level declines in the baseline, but not in the presence of a real stereotype.

Suggested Citation

  • Dulleck, Uwe & He, Yumei & Kidd, Michael P. & Silva-Goncalves, Juliana, 2017. "The impact of affirmative action: Evidence from a cross-country laboratory experiment," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 67-71.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:155:y:2017:i:c:p:67-71
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2017.03.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ben Greiner, 2015. "Subject pool recruitment procedures: organizing experiments with ORSEE," Journal of the Economic Science Association, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 1(1), pages 114-125, July.
    2. Calsamiglia, Caterina & Franke, Jörg & Rey-Biel, Pedro, 2013. "The incentive effects of affirmative action in a real-effort tournament," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 15-31.
    3. Buchan, Nancy & Croson, Rachel, 2004. "The boundaries of trust: own and others' actions in the US and China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 485-504, December.
    4. Muriel Niederle & Carmit Segal & Lise Vesterlund, 2013. "How Costly Is Diversity? Affirmative Action in Light of Gender Differences in Competitiveness," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(1), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Urs Fischbacher, 2007. "z-Tree: Zurich toolbox for ready-made economic experiments," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 10(2), pages 171-178, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Juliana Silva-Goncalves & Uwe Dulleck & Anita Lee Hong & Markus Schaffner & Stephen Whyte, 2016. "Affirmative action and effort choice: An experimental investigation," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-54, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Affirmative action; Stereotype; Cross-country laboratory experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • J78 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Public Policy (including comparable worth)

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