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A Discrimination Report Card

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  • Patrick M. Kline
  • Evan K. Rose
  • Christopher R. Walters

Abstract

We develop an empirical Bayes ranking procedure that assigns ordinal grades to noisy measurements, balancing the information content of the assigned grades against the expected frequency of ranking errors. Applying the method to a massive correspondence experiment, we grade the race and gender contact gaps of 97 U.S. employers, the identities of which we disclose for the first time. The grades are presented alongside measures of uncertainty about each firm’s contact gap in an accessible report card that is easily adaptable to other settings where ranks and levels are of simultaneous interest.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick M. Kline & Evan K. Rose & Christopher R. Walters, 2024. "A Discrimination Report Card," NBER Working Papers 32313, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32313
    Note: LE LS PE TWP
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Marianne Bertrand & Sendhil Mullainathan, 2004. "Are Emily and Greg More Employable Than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(4), pages 991-1013, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher Walters, 2024. "Empirical Bayes Methods in Labor Economics," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2422, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    2. Melo, Vitor & Rocha, Hugo Vaca Pereira & Sigaud, Liam & Warren, Patrick L. & Gaddis, S. Michael, 2024. "Understanding Discrimination in College Admissions: A Field Experiment," SocArXiv 5ctms, Center for Open Science.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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