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Skin Tone and Wages: Evidence From NBA Free Agents

Author

Listed:
  • John Robst

    (Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA-Bonn), University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA, jrobst@fmhi.usf.edu)

  • Jennifer VanGilder

    (Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, USA)

  • Corinne E. Coates

    (Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, USA)

  • David J. Berri

    (Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT, USA)

Abstract

Although the vast majority of research focuses on differences across races, recent research has also considered disparities within racial groups. Intraracial discrimination or colorism is defined as a bias between members of the same racial group. Prior research has found a strong relationship between skin tone of African American men and economic outcomes. This article examines the relationship between skin tone and compensation for a sample of highly paid African American men, namely, professional basketball players. One innovation is to use an objective measure of skin tone. The authors find only weak support for customer discrimination and no support for employer discrimination based on skin tone.

Suggested Citation

  • John Robst & Jennifer VanGilder & Corinne E. Coates & David J. Berri, 2011. "Skin Tone and Wages: Evidence From NBA Free Agents," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 12(2), pages 143-156, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:12:y:2011:i:2:p:143-156
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002510378825
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Joni Hersch, 2008. "Profiling the New Immigrant Worker: The Effects of Skin Color and Height," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(2), pages 345-386, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. David J. Berri & Christian Deutscher & Arturo Galletti, 2015. "Born in the USA: National Origin Effects on Time Allocation in US and Spanish Professional Basketball," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 232(1), pages 41-50, May.
    2. Christian Deutscher & Oliver Gürtler & Joachim Prinz & Daniel Weimar, 2017. "The Payoff To Consistency In Performance," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 55(2), pages 1091-1103, April.

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