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Discrimination and Freedom of Speech: Is there a Benefit from Political Correctness?

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  • Gomez-Ruano, Gerardo

Abstract

This paper shows how Political Correctness may eliminate market-discrimination (i.e., wage-gaps). The rationale for this effect is that speech may permit others to gauge the viability of discriminatory actions in a social context. Political Correctness can, hence, increase the welfare of the discriminated group despite speech being per-se harmless. The paper contributes to the literature on Political Correctness, by pointing out non-trivial benefits from it; to the literature on discrimination, by suggesting an alternative mechanism for discrimination; and to legal theory, by exposing some trade-offs involved with the freedom of expression. The model is consistent with real-life phenomena like the unequal ``forbidding of words'', the social segregation and integration patterns, and the failure of hate-speech laws to reduce discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Gomez-Ruano, Gerardo, 2012. "Discrimination and Freedom of Speech: Is there a Benefit from Political Correctness?," MPRA Paper 93885, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:93885
    as

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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/93885/1/MPRA_paper_93885.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bernheim, B Douglas, 1994. "A Theory of Conformity," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 102(5), pages 841-877, October.
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    3. Stephen Morris, 2001. "Political Correctness," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 109(2), pages 231-265, April.
    4. Edward L. Glaeser, 2005. "The Political Economy of Hatred," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 120(1), pages 45-86.
    5. Lazear, Edward P, 1989. "Pay Equality and Industrial Politics," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 97(3), pages 561-580, June.
    6. Kerwin Kofi Charles & Jonathan Guryan, 2007. "Prejudice and The Economics of Discrimination," NBER Working Papers 13661, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Glenn C. Loury, 1994. "Self-Censorship in Public Discourse," Rationality and Society, , vol. 6(4), pages 428-461, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Political Correctness; Free Speech; Discrimination; Imperfect Enforcement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J7 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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