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Racial discrimination in the lab: Evidence of statistical and taste-based discrimination

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  • Wozniak, David
  • MacNeill, Timothy

Abstract

Using a lab experiment that simulates a labor market, we investigate racial discrimination for employee selection. We find discrimination against Blacks persists even when information about candidates’ past performance/abilities is known. The experiment design allows us to observe within-subject variation in discrimination based on different available information about candidates, which helps distinguish between statistical and taste-based discrimination. We find evidence of discrimination by Non-Blacks against Blacks whenever race is salient. Some hiring discrimination against Blacks is statistical, since it is based on distrust of applicants’ self-reported abilities, and is also present in the discrimination of Blacks against their own group. But discrimination by Non-Blacks against Blacks is likely taste-based as it endures when more accurate information about abilities is known and even when such discrimination is costly. We suggest that the institutional and social climate may shape the prevalence of this type of discrimination.

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  • Wozniak, David & MacNeill, Timothy, 2020. "Racial discrimination in the lab: Evidence of statistical and taste-based discrimination," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:85:y:2020:i:c:s2214804318302507
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2020.101512
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    2. Carlotta Nani, 2024. "Perceived abilities and gender stereotypes within the household: experimental evidence from Bangladesh," IHEID Working Papers 19-2024, Economics Section, The Graduate Institute of International Studies.
    3. Kas, Judith, 2022. "The effect of online reputation systems on intergroup inequality," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    4. Kas, Judith, 2022. "The effect of online reputation systems on intergroup inequality," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 96, pages 1-1.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J7 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination
    • D0 - Microeconomics - - General
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General

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