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Subtle discrimination in the rental housing market: Evidence from e-mail correspondence with landlords

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  • Hanson, Andrew
  • Hawley, Zackary
  • Taylor, Aryn

Abstract

We find that landlords practice subtle discrimination in the rental housing market through the use of language associated with describing and viewing a unit, inviting further correspondence, making a formal greeting, and using polite language when replying to e-mail inquiries from a white name more often than to an African American name, they also send longer e-mails and respond quicker to white names.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanson, Andrew & Hawley, Zackary & Taylor, Aryn, 2011. "Subtle discrimination in the rental housing market: Evidence from e-mail correspondence with landlords," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 276-284.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhouse:v:20:y:2011:i:4:p:276-284
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhe.2011.09.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Discrimination; Field experiment; Housing; Race;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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