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Race and Redistribution in the United States: An Experimental Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Jesper Akesson
  • Robert W. Hahn
  • Robert D. Metcalfe
  • Itzhak Rasooly

Abstract

Scholars have suggested that White American support for welfare is related to beliefs about the racial composition of welfare recipients. While a host of observational studies lend credence to this view, it has not yet been tested using the tools of randomized inference. In this study, we do this by conducting two incentive-compatible experiments (n = 9,775) in which different participants are randomly given different signals about the share of welfare recipients who identify as Black and White. Our analysis yields four main findings. First, 86% of respondents greatly overestimate the share of welfare recipients who are Black, with the average respondent overestimating this by almost a factor of two. Second, White support for welfare is inversely related to the proportion of welfare recipients who are Black—a causal claim that we establish using treatment assignment as an instrument for beliefs about the racial composition of welfare recipients. Third, just making White participants think about the racial composition of welfare recipients reduces their support for welfare. Fourth, providing White respondents with accurate information about the racial composition of welfare recipients (relative to not receiving any information) does not significantly influence their support for welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesper Akesson & Robert W. Hahn & Robert D. Metcalfe & Itzhak Rasooly, 2022. "Race and Redistribution in the United States: An Experimental Analysis," NBER Working Papers 30426, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30426
    Note: PE POL
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    Cited by:

    1. Achard, Pascal & Suetens, Sigrid, 2023. "The Causal Effect of Ethnic Diversity on Support for Redistribution and the Role of Discrimination," Other publications TiSEM a5e6e0cd-5e07-4a24-a15c-a, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    2. Achard, Pascal & Suetens, Sigrid, 2023. "The Causal Effect of Ethnic Diversity on Support for Redistribution and the Role of Discrimination," Discussion Paper 2023-013, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • H0 - Public Economics - - General

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