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Incentives for discrimination

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  • Mialon, Sue H.
  • Yoo, Seung Han

Abstract

This paper models employers’ incentives for discrimination against ex ante identical groups of workers when the workers must compete for a limited number of positions. Employers benefit from discrimination against minority workers because it can reduce the overall risk from workers’ noisy signals by increasing the expected quality of “majority” workers and their chance to win the competition for the limited number of positions. We show that employers can influence the selection of a discriminatory equilibrium by choosing the set of finalists in competition primarily from a majority group, and favoring them when the two groups are equally qualified. We discuss the implications of equal opportunity laws in this context.

Suggested Citation

  • Mialon, Sue H. & Yoo, Seung Han, 2017. "Incentives for discrimination," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 141-160.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:136:y:2017:i:c:p:141-160
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2017.01.021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Statistical discrimination; Group inequality; Asymmetric information; Cross-group risks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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