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Understanding Labor Market Discrimination Against Transgender People: Evidence from a Double List Experiment and a Survey

Author

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  • Billur Aksoy
  • Christopher S. Carpenter
  • Dario Sansone

Abstract

Using a US nationally representative sample and a double list experiment designed to elicit views free from social desirability bias, we find that anti-transgender labor market attitudes are significantly underreported. After correcting for this concealment, we report that 73 percent of people would be comfortable with a transgender manager and 74 percent support employment non-discrimination protection for transgender people. We also show that respondents severely underestimate the population level of support for transgender individuals in the workplace, and we find that labor market support for transgender people is significantly lower than support for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Our results provide timely evidence on workplace-related views toward transgender people and help us better understand employment discrimination against them.

Suggested Citation

  • Billur Aksoy & Christopher S. Carpenter & Dario Sansone, 2022. "Understanding Labor Market Discrimination Against Transgender People: Evidence from a Double List Experiment and a Survey," NBER Working Papers 30483, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30483
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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Kotsadam & Mette Løvgren, 2025. "Is it Time to Put a Moratorium on List Experiments for Domestic Violence Elicitation?," CESifo Working Paper Series 12028, CESifo.
    2. Aksoy, Billur & Chadd, Ian & Koh, Boon Han, 2023. "Sexual identity, gender, and anticipated discrimination in prosocial behavior," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Gagnon, Nickolas & Nosenzo, Daniele, 2025. "Discrimination Preferences," EconStor Preprints 323979, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    4. Listo, Ariel & Muñoz, Ercio A. & Sansone, Dario, 2025. "Measuring the Sources of Taste-Based Discrimination Using List Experiments," IZA Discussion Papers 17976, IZA Network @ LISER.
    5. Boring, Anne & Delfgaauw, Josse, 2024. "Social desirability bias in attitudes towards sexism and DEI policies in the workplace," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 465-482.
    6. Riccardo Ciacci & Dario Sansone, 2023. "The impact of sodomy law repeals on crime," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(4), pages 2519-2548, October.
    7. Aksoy, Billur & Chadd, Ian, 2025. "Competitiveness at the intersection of gender and sexual orientation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    8. Crépon, Bruno & Elsayed, Ahmed & Gazeaud, Jules, 2025. "Unbiased and Accurate: Measuring Sensitive Outcomes Through Ballot-Bag Surveys," IZA Discussion Papers 18072, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. M. V. Lee Badgett & Christopher S. Carpenter & Maxine J. Lee & Dario Sansone, 2024. "A Review of the Economics of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(3), pages 948-994, September.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General

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