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Name length and labor market performance

Author

Listed:
  • Deng, Weiguang
  • Gao, Tingwei

Abstract

We investigate the effects of individuals' name length on their labor market performance using Chinese data. The results indicate that the longer a person's name, the higher their probability of employment but the lower their income in some cases. The optimal Chinese fullname length with respect to employment probability is 3 characters. Increasing one character in fullnames increases the employment probability by 1.6 percentage point. Name length effects on income present gender, urban-rural, clan culture intensity, and age cohort heterogeneity. Further mechanism analyses indicate that name length may affect personal labor market performance by affecting evaluations by others, and formations of human and social capital. Recommendations toward neutralizing such effects and avoiding economic name-based discriminations are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Deng, Weiguang & Gao, Tingwei, 2023. "Name length and labor market performance," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:79:y:2023:i:c:s1043951x23000603
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2023.101975
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Chinese names; Name length; Labor market performance; Discrimination;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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