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Racial Self-Classification, Group Consciousness, and Public Employment Representation

Author

Listed:
  • Diogo Baerlocher

    (Department of Economics, University of South Florida)

  • Rodrigo Schneider

    (Department of Economics, Skidmore College)

Abstract

This paper examines how racial identity misrepresentation influences public sector hiring in Brazil. We focus on misaligned white candidates — those who self-identify as white but are unlikely to be classified as such by facial recognition — and exploit close electoral races using a regression discontinuity design. Narrow victories by these candidates reduce the share of nonwhite hires in municipal legislative offices by approximately 20%, with effects concentrated in temporary and managerial positions. We also find a significant decline in nonwhite leadership in municipal secretariats. These results indicate that misaligned whiteness shapes racial representation through political and bureaucratic channels.

Suggested Citation

  • Diogo Baerlocher & Rodrigo Schneider, 2025. "Racial Self-Classification, Group Consciousness, and Public Employment Representation," Working Papers 2025-04, University of South Florida, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:usf:wpaper:2025-04
    as

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    File URL: https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/departments/economics/documents/wpaper/2025-04.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matias D. Cattaneo & Michael Jansson & Xinwei Ma, 2020. "Simple Local Polynomial Density Estimators," Journal of the American Statistical Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 115(531), pages 1449-1455, July.
    2. Schneider, Rodrigo & Veras, Henrique, 2023. "Do bigger legislatures lead to bigger government? Evidence from a Brazilian municipal council reform," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120411, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Skidmore, Thomas E, 2009. "Brazil: Five Centuries of Change," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 2, number 9780195374551.
    4. Jorge Ikawa & Clarice Martins & Pedro C. Sant’Anna & Rogerio Santarrosa, 2024. "Elections that Inspire: Effects of Black Mayors on Educational Attainment," Business and Economics Working Papers 243, Unidade de Negocios e Economia, Insper.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration

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