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Competitive Preferences and Ethnicity: Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Abu Siddique
  • Michael Vlassopoulos

Abstract

We investigate whether aversion to competing against members of the ethnically dominant group could be a contributing factor to the persistent disadvantageous socioeconomic position of ethnic minorities. We conducted a lab-in-the-field experiment in rural Bangladesh, randomly assigning participants into groups with different ethnic composition. We find that the ethnic minority group (Santal) are less likely to compete in groups where they are a numerical minority than when all competitors are co-ethnic, whereas the reverse is true for the ethnic majority group (Bengali). Further analysis suggests that differences in social power and status underpin these differences in preferences for interethnic competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Abu Siddique & Michael Vlassopoulos, 2020. "Competitive Preferences and Ethnicity: Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 130(627), pages 793-821.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:130:y:2020:i:627:p:793-821.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/uez063
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    Cited by:

    1. Ifcher, John & Zarghamee, Homa, 2020. "Competitive Preferences among Asians in the U.S," IZA Discussion Papers 13913, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Aksoy, Billur & Chadd, Ian, 2025. "Competitiveness at the intersection of gender and sexual orientation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    3. Abu Siddique, 2021. "Behavioral Consequences of Religious Education," Munich Papers in Political Economy 10, Munich School of Politics and Public Policy and the School of Management at the Technical University of Munich.
    4. Buser, Thomas & van den Assem, Martijn J. & van Dolder, Dennie, 2023. "Gender and willingness to compete for high stakes," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 350-370.
    5. Siddique, Abu & Vlassopoulos, Michael & Zenou, Yves, 2023. "Market competition and discrimination," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    6. Khadjavi, Menusch & Sipangule, Kacana & Thiele, Rainer, 2024. "Exposure to large-scale farms increases smallholders’ competitive behavior and closes the gender gap," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    7. Siddique, Abu, 2024. "Behavioral consequences of religious schooling," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    8. Balafoutas, Loukas & Fornwagner, Helena & Grosskopf, Brit, 2023. "Predictably competitive? What faces can tell us about competitive behavior," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 931-940.
    9. Siddique, Abu & Vlassopoulos, Michael & Zenou, Yves, 2024. "Leveraging Edutainment and Social Networks to Foster Interethnic Harmony," CEPR Discussion Papers 19034, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Chen, Yvonne Jie & Dutz, Deniz & Li, Li & Moon, Sarah & Vytlacil, Edward & Zhong, Songfa, 2024. "Eliciting willingness-to-pay to decompose beliefs and preferences that determine selection into competition in lab experiments," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 243(1).
    11. Fan, Haichao & Hu, Xingcun & Lin, Faqin & Liu, Mengxun, 2025. "Cultural origin and international trade," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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