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Understanding Labor Market Discrimination Against Transgender People: Evidence from a Double List Experiment and a Survey

Author

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  • Billur Aksoy

    (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180)

  • Christopher S. Carpenter

    (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235; National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138; IZA, 53113 Bonn, Germany)

  • Dario Sansone

    (IZA, 53113 Bonn, Germany; University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4PU, United Kingdom)

Abstract

Using a double list experiment designed to elicit views free from social desirability bias, we find that support in the United States for transgender people in the labor market is significantly overreported by 8%–10%. After correcting for this overreporting, we still find that over two-thirds of respondents would be comfortable with a transgender manager and support employment nondiscrimination protection for transgender people. However, respondents severely underestimate this level of support. We also show that stated labor market support for transgender people is lower than support for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Our results advance our understanding of employment discrimination against transgender people.

Suggested Citation

  • Billur Aksoy & Christopher S. Carpenter & Dario Sansone, 2025. "Understanding Labor Market Discrimination Against Transgender People: Evidence from a Double List Experiment and a Survey," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 71(1), pages 659-677, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:71:y:2025:i:1:p:659-677
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2023.02567
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    Cited by:

    1. Riccardo Ciacci & Dario Sansone, 2023. "The impact of sodomy law repeals on crime," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(4), pages 2519-2548, October.
    2. Aksoy, Billur & Chadd, Ian & Koh, Boon Han, 2023. "Sexual identity, gender, and anticipated discrimination in prosocial behavior," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Ariel Listo & Ercio A. Munoz & Dario Sansone, 2025. "Measuring the Sources of Taste-Based Discrimination Using List Experiments," Papers 2503.09846, arXiv.org.
    4. Boring, Anne & Delfgaauw, Josse, 2024. "Social desirability bias in attitudes towards sexism and DEI policies in the workplace," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 465-482.
    5. M. V. Lee Badgett & Christopher S. Carpenter & Maxine J. Lee & Dario Sansone, 2024. "A Review of the Economics of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(3), pages 948-994, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labor market discrimination; transgender people; double list experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law

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