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Labor market differentials estimated with researcher-inferred and self-identified sexual orientation

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  • Martell, Michael E.

Abstract

The impact of the common practice of inferring sexual orientation via cohabitation status on estimated labor market differentials for sexual minorities is understudied. Using the 2013–2018 National Health Interview Survey, I show that inferring sexual orientation via cohabitation status leads to similar estimated differentials for gay men but inflates outcomes for lesbian women. Estimates for all bisexual individuals are biased upwards, because bisexual individuals are less likely to cohabit and comprise less than ten percent of the same-sex cohabiting sample. Estimates of outcomes for sexual minority members of same-sex households are largely unaffected by the sample contamination resulting from potentially erroneous inclusion of heterosexual individuals. However, cohabitation based researcher inference of sexual orientation masks important heterogeneity in self-identified sexual orientation based labor market differentials. Results highlight the need for inclusion of sexual orientation identity on more large scale surveys.

Suggested Citation

  • Martell, Michael E., 2021. "Labor market differentials estimated with researcher-inferred and self-identified sexual orientation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:205:y:2021:i:c:s0165176521002366
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109959
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Deal, Cameron, 2022. "Bound by Bostock: The effect of policies on attitudes," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    2. Cameron Deal & Shea Greenberg & Gilbert Gonzales, 2024. "Sexual identity, poverty, and utilization of government services," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(2), pages 1-31, June.
    3. Enzo Brox & Riccardo Di Francesco, 2024. "The Cost of Coming Out," Papers 2403.03649, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2024.
    4. Aksoy, Billur & Chadd, Ian & Koh, Boon Han, 2023. "Sexual identity, gender, and anticipated discrimination in prosocial behavior," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    5. Billur Aksoy & Ian Chadd & Boon Han Koh, 2022. "(Anticipated) Discrimination against Sexual Minorities in Prosocial Domains," University of East Anglia School of Economics Working Paper Series 2021-08, School of Economics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK..
    6. Michael E. Martell & Leanne Roncolato, 2023. "Economic Vulnerability of Sexual Minorities: Evidence from the US Household Pulse Survey," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(2), pages 1-74, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sexual orientation; Same-sex households; Discrimination; Labor market outcomes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • J7 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination

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