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Roma and Bureaucrats: A Field Experiment on Ethnic and Socioeconomic Discrimination

Author

Listed:
  • Mikula, Stepan

    (Masaryk University)

  • Montag, Josef

    (Charles University, Prague)

Abstract

This paper tests for discriminatory treatment of the Roma minority by public officials in the Czech Republic at the stage of initial contact preceding a potential application for unemployment benefit. Our correspondence experiment facilitates testing for the presence of each of two intertwined drivers of discrimination: ethnic animus and socioeconomic status prejudice. We find substantial evidence for the presence of discrimination based on both of these sources. Since Roma tend to have lower socioeconomic status, the two sources of discrimination compound for them.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikula, Stepan & Montag, Josef, 2023. "Roma and Bureaucrats: A Field Experiment on Ethnic and Socioeconomic Discrimination," IZA Discussion Papers 16218, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16218
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    discrimination; Roma; ethnicity; socioeconomic status; public services; social security; field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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