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Gender-neutral hiring of junior scholars

Author

Listed:
  • Joanna Tyrowicz

    (Group for Research in Applied Economics (GRAPE)
    University of Warsaw
    Institute of Labor Economics (IZA))

  • Lucas Augusto van der Velde

    (Group for Research in Applied Economics (GRAPE)
    Warsaw School of Economics)

  • Magdalena Smyk

    (Group for Research in Applied Economics (GRAPE)
    Warsaw School of Economics)

Abstract

We examine the role for external experts in providing unbiased evaluations of candidates in the context of gender. Affirmative action policies can promote the advancement of minority candidates, but the empirical results have been inconclusive on whether they are effective in eliminating bias. Our experimental design was structured to detect bias: we ask senior academics to assess the quality of job applications to junior positions and recommend which candidates should be invited for interviews. We study the role of the strong commitment to ensuring equal opportunity in hiring. Additionally, we vary the gender composition of the applications being evaluated and the quality of candidates. We find no evidence of bias in quality assessments, nor in recommendation to invite candidates for an interview, suggesting alignment between external experts and institutional objectives of unbiased hiring.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanna Tyrowicz & Lucas Augusto van der Velde & Magdalena Smyk, 2024. "Gender-neutral hiring of junior scholars," GRAPE Working Papers 94, GRAPE Group for Research in Applied Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:fme:wpaper:94
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    affirmative action; gender discrimination; academia; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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