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Nothing really matters: Evaluating demand-sidemoderators of age discrimination in hiring

Author

Listed:
  • Axana Dalle
  • Louis Lippens
  • Stijn Baert

Abstract

As age discrimination hampers the OECD’s ambition to extend the working population, an efficient antidiscrimination policy targeted at the right employers is critical. Therefore, the context in which age discrimination is most prevalent must be identified. In this study, we thoroughly review the current theoretical arguments and empirical findings regarding moderators of age discrimination in different demand-side domains (i.e. decision-maker, vacancy, occupation, organisation, and sector). Our review demonstrates that the current literature is highly fragmented and often lacks field-experimental evidence, raising concerns about itsinternal and external validity.To addressthis gap, we conducted a correspondence experiment and systematically linked the resulting data to external data sources. In so doing, we were able to study the priorly determined demand-side moderators within a single multi-level analysis and simultaneously control multiple correlations between potential moderators and discrimination estimates. Having done so, we found no empirical support for any of these moderators.

Suggested Citation

  • Axana Dalle & Louis Lippens & Stijn Baert, 2023. "Nothing really matters: Evaluating demand-sidemoderators of age discrimination in hiring," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 23/1081, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    • Handle: RePEc:rug:rugwps:23/1081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. P. A. Riach & J. Rich, 2002. "Field Experiments of Discrimination in the Market Place," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 112(483), pages 480-518, November.
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    4. Daniel, Kirsten & Heywood, John S., 2007. "The determinants of hiring older workers: UK evidence," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 35-51, January.
    5. Baert, Stijn & Norga, Jennifer & Thuy, Yannick & Van Hecke, Marieke, 2016. "Getting grey hairs in the labour market. An alternative experiment on age discrimination," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 86-101.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ageism; Hiring discrimination; Heterogeneity; Literature review; Field experiment; Administrative data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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