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Public opinion, racial bias and labour market outcomes in the USA

Author

Listed:
  • Kaveh Majlesi

    (Monash University
    Lund University
    Centre for Economic Policy Research
    Institute for Labor Economics)

  • Silvia Prina

    (Institute for Labor Economics
    Northeastern University
    Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL))

  • Paul Sullivan

    (American University)

Abstract

Here we study the role of negative shifts in public opinion in the economic lives of under-represented racial groups by investigating sudden changes in views towards Asian people following the anti-Chinese rhetoric that emerged with the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated changes in employment status and earnings in the US labour market. Using data from the Current Population Survey, we find that, unlike other under-represented groups, Asian workers in occupations or industries with a higher likelihood of face-to-face interactions before the pandemic were more likely to become unemployed afterwards. While widespread along the political spectrum, negative shifts in the perceived favourability of Asian people, and not of other under-represented groups, were much stronger among those who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and could have been more influenced by the anti-Asian rhetoric.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaveh Majlesi & Silvia Prina & Paul Sullivan, 2024. "Public opinion, racial bias and labour market outcomes in the USA," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(8), pages 1493-1505, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:8:y:2024:i:8:d:10.1038_s41562-024-01904-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01904-w
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