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Profit vs morality : results from a survey experiment on discrimination

Author

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  • Mathieu Bunel

    (LARJE - Laboratoire de Recherches Juridique et Economique - UNC - Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, UNC - Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie)

  • Elisabeth Tovar

    (EconomiX - EconomiX - UPN - Université Paris Nanterre - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UPN - Université Paris Nanterre)

Abstract

Using an original survey-experimental protocol, we study the normative acceptability of the trade-off between immoral profit (discrimination) and costly morality (non-discrimination). We test the causal influence of three factors: i) the origin of discrimination, ii) the steepness of the morality/profit trade-off and iii) antidiscriminatory moral injunctions. Contrasting with past experimental and attitudinal studies, we find that a significant minority of respondents believe that labor market discrimination is acceptable when morality results in profit loss. We also find that the three tested factors have significant effects on normative opinions. Respondents are more likely to choose profit over morality when discrimination is taste-based than when it is caused by imperfect information. Discrimination's acceptability rises with the cost of non discrimination. Antidiscriminatory moral injunctions sharply reduces the acceptability of profitable discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathieu Bunel & Elisabeth Tovar, 2019. "Profit vs morality : results from a survey experiment on discrimination," Post-Print hal-05712777, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05712777
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://unc.hal.science/hal-05712777v1
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