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Unintended Effects of Anonymous Resumes

Author

Listed:
  • Behaghel, Luc

    (Paris School of Economics)

  • Crépon, Bruno

    (CREST)

  • Le Barbanchon, Thomas

    (Bocconi University)

Abstract

We evaluate an experimental program in which the French public employment service anonymized resumes for firms that were hiring. Firms were free to participate or not; participating firms were then randomly assigned to receive either anonymous resumes or name-bearing ones. We find that participating firms become less likely to interview and hire minority candidates when receiving anonymous resumes. We show how these unexpected results can be explained by the self-selection of firms into the program and by the fact that anonymization prevents the attenuation of negative signals when the candidate belongs to a minority.

Suggested Citation

  • Behaghel, Luc & Crépon, Bruno & Le Barbanchon, Thomas, 2014. "Unintended Effects of Anonymous Resumes," IZA Discussion Papers 8517, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8517
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Krause, Annabelle & Rinne, Ulf & Zimmermann, Klaus F., 2012. "Anonymous job applications of fresh Ph.D. economists," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 117(2), pages 441-444.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    anonymous applications; discrimination; randomized experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • J78 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Public Policy (including comparable worth)

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