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Productivity Signals and Disability-Related Hiring Discrimination: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Antinyan, Armenak

    (Thames Water)

  • Burn, Ian

    (University of Liverpool)

  • Jones, Melanie K.

    (Cardiff University)

Abstract

While hiring discrimination against disabled candidates is widely documented, the reasons for such discrimination and the mechanisms designed to reduce it are not well understood. This study aims to tackle these questions through a large-scale correspondence study. Fictitious job applications were sent to about 4,000 job vacancies for accountants and financial accounts assistants in the UK. Consistent with discrimination, we find a 5.6 percentage point (15%) gap in the employer callback rate associated with mobility impairment indicated by the use of a wheelchair, but substantial occupational heterogeneity. Productivity signals designed to reduce statistical discrimination, including the offer of a positive reference from a previous employer and, enhanced education and technical skills, do not reduce, and actually widen, the disability gap in callbacks. Our findings are suggestive of taste-based discrimination being a significant barrier to employment for disabled people that requires policy attention.

Suggested Citation

  • Antinyan, Armenak & Burn, Ian & Jones, Melanie K., 2024. "Productivity Signals and Disability-Related Hiring Discrimination: Evidence from a Field Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 17290, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17290
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Stijn Baert, 2016. "Wage subsidies and hiring chances for the disabled: some causal evidence," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 17(1), pages 71-86, January.
    3. Becker, Gary S., 1971. "The Economics of Discrimination," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 2, number 9780226041162.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    disability; discrimination; correspondence studies; productivity signals;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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