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Experience-Based Discrimination: Classroom Games

Author

Listed:
  • Roland G. Fryer
  • Jacob K. Goeree
  • Charles A. Holt

Abstract

The authors present a simple classroom game in which students are randomly designated as employers, purple workers, or green workers. This environment may generate "statistical" discrimination if workers of one color tend not to invest because they anticipate lower opportunities in the labor market, and these beliefs are self-confirming as employers learn that it is, on average, less profitable to hire workers of that color. Such discriminatory equilibria may arise even when workers are ex-ante identical, and the employer has no prior information regarding potential workers. The exercise typically generates a lively discussion about discrimination and how it may be addressed by alternative public policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Roland G. Fryer & Jacob K. Goeree & Charles A. Holt, 2005. "Experience-Based Discrimination: Classroom Games," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(2), pages 160-170, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jeduce:v:36:y:2005:i:2:p:160-170
    DOI: 10.3200/JECE.36.2.160-170
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Stephan Schuster, 2012. "BRA: An Algorithm for Simulating Bounded Rational Agents," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 39(1), pages 51-69, January.
    2. David Masclet & Emmanuel Peterle & Sophie Larribeau, 2012. "The Role of Information in Deterring Discrimination: A New Experimental Evidence of Statistical Discrimination," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes 1 & University of Caen) 201238, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes 1, University of Caen and CNRS.
    3. Antonio Filippin & Francesco Guala, 2013. "Costless discrimination and unequal achievements in an experimental tournament," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 16(3), pages 285-305, September.
    4. Dickinson, David L. & Masclet, David & Peterle, Emmanuel, 2018. "Discrimination as favoritism: The private benefits and social costs of in-group favoritism in an experimental labor market," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 220-236.
    5. Dianat, Ahrash & Echenique, Federico & Yariv, Leeat, 2022. "Statistical discrimination and affirmative action in the lab," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 41-58.
    6. Mallory Avery & Andreas Leibbrandt & Joseph Vecci, 2023. "Does Artificial Intelligence Help or Hurt Gender Diversity? Evidence from Two Field Experiments on Recruitment in Tech," Monash Economics Working Papers 2023-09, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    7. Charness, Gary & Kuhn, Peter, 2011. "Lab Labor: What Can Labor Economists Learn from the Lab?," Handbook of Labor Economics, in: O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), Handbook of Labor Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 3, pages 229-330, Elsevier.
    8. Joanna N. Lahey & Douglas R. Oxley, 2021. "Discrimination at the Intersection of Age, Race, and Gender: Evidence from an Eye‐Tracking Experiment," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(4), pages 1083-1119, September.
    9. Kevin Lang & Jee-Yeon K. Lehmann, 2012. "Racial Discrimination in the Labor Market: Theory and Empirics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 50(4), pages 959-1006, December.
    10. Michael P. Kidd & Paul S. Carlin & Jonathan Pot, 2008. "Experimenting with Affirmative Action: The Coate and Loury Model," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 84(266), pages 322-337, September.
    11. Filippin, Antonio & Guala, Francesco, 2011. "Costless Discrimination and Unequal Achievements in a Labour Market Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 6187, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Magnus Rodin & Gulay Ozcan, 2013. "Is It How You Look or Speak That Matters? “An Experimental Study Exploring the Mechanisms of Ethnic Discrimination”," Working Papers 009, Bahcesehir University, Betam.
    13. Schuster, Stephan, 2012. "Applications in Agent-Based Computational Economics," MPRA Paper 47201, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Wayne Geerling, 2012. "Bringing the 'Dismal Science' to Life: Teaching Economics Through Multimedia," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 11(2), pages 81-90.
    15. Rödin, Magnus & Özcan, Gülay, 2011. "Is It How You Look or Speak That Matters? - An Experimental Study Exploring the Mechanisms of Ethnic Discrimination," Research Papers in Economics 2011:12, Stockholm University, Department of Economics.
    16. Wayne Geerling, 2011. "Using Multimedia to Teach Economics," Working Papers 2011.02, School of Economics, La Trobe University.
    17. Gabrielle Wall, 2011. "Outwit, outplay, outcast? Sex discrimination in voting behaviour in the reality television show Survivor," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(1-2), pages 183-193.
    18. Rödin, Magnus & Özcan, Gülay, 2011. "Is It How You Look or Speak That Matters? - An Experimental Study Exploring the Mechanisms of Ethnic Discrimination," SULCIS Working Papers 2011:3, Stockholm University, Linnaeus Center for Integration Studies - SULCIS.

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