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Walking while Black :Racial Gaps in Hit-and-Run Cases

Author

Listed:
  • Madina Kurmangaliyeva
  • Matteo Sostero

Abstract

We provide a causal test for racial gaps in victimization and clearance rates, using unintentional vehicle-pedestrian crashes. The victim’s raceshould not depend on the driver’s characteristics, conditional on location and time. We find that American drivers flee 13% more often if they hitBlack pedestrians, and their clearance rates are 11% lower. This provides rare evidence of racial discrimination by the public in a high-stakes environment.These gaps correlate, suggesting statistical discrimination as a mechanism and underlining the importance of closing the racial gapin clearance rates, especially in poorer non-Black neighborhoods. Tastebased discrimination is arguably also at play.

Suggested Citation

  • Madina Kurmangaliyeva & Matteo Sostero, 2022. "Walking while Black :Racial Gaps in Hit-and-Run Cases," Working Papers ECARES 2022-08, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:eca:wpaper:2013/341775
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    Keywords

    racial gap; victimization; hit-and-run crimes; statistical discrimination; out-group bias; law enforcement;
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