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Statistical Discrimination or Prejudice? A Large Sample Field Experiment

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  • Michael Ewens
  • Bryan Tomlin
  • Liang Choon Wang

Abstract

A model of racial discrimination provides testable implications for two features of statistical discriminators: differential treatment of signals by race and heterogeneous experience that shapes perception. We construct an experiment in the U.S. rental apartment market that distinguishes statistical discrimination from taste-based discrimination. Responses from over 14,000 rental inquiries with varying applicant quality show that landlords treat identical information from applicants with African-American and white sounding names differently. This differential treatment varies by neighborhood racial composition and signal type in a way consistent with statistical discrimination and in contrast to patterns predicted by a model of taste-based discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Ewens & Bryan Tomlin & Liang Choon Wang, "undated". "Statistical Discrimination or Prejudice? A Large Sample Field Experiment," GSIA Working Papers 2012-E37, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:cmu:gsiawp:-121416828
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J70 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - General
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • R3 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location

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