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Reducing Sexual-Orientation Discrimination: Experimental Evidence from Basic Information Treatments

Author

Listed:
  • Aksoy, Cevat Giray

    (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)

  • Carpenter, Christopher S.

    (Vanderbilt University)

  • De Haas, Ralph

    (EBRD, London)

  • Dolls, Mathias

    (Ifo Institute for Economic Research)

  • Windsteiger, Lisa

    (Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance)

Abstract

We study basic information treatments regarding sexual orientation using randomized experiments in three countries with strong and widespread anti-gay attitudes: Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Participants who received information about the economic costs to society of sexual-orientation discrimination were significantly more likely than those in a control group to support equal employment opportunities based on sexual orientation. Information that the World Health Organization (WHO) does not regard homosexuality as a mental illness increased social acceptance of sexual minorities, but only for those who reported trust in the WHO. Our results have important implications for policy makers aiming to expand the rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Aksoy, Cevat Giray & Carpenter, Christopher S. & De Haas, Ralph & Dolls, Mathias & Windsteiger, Lisa, 2022. "Reducing Sexual-Orientation Discrimination: Experimental Evidence from Basic Information Treatments," IZA Discussion Papers 14998, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14998
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gayane Baghumyan, 2023. "Sexual-Orientation Discrimination and Biological Attributions: Experimental Evidence from Russia," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp762, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    2. Gulesci, Selim & Lombardi, María & Ramos, Alejandra, 2023. "Telenovelas and Attitudes toward the LGBTIQ Community in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12676, Inter-American Development Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sexual minorities; information treatments; discrimination; attitudes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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