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Discrimination, narratives and family history: An experiment with Jordanian host and Syrian refugee children

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  • Barron, Kai
  • Harmgart, Heike
  • Huck, Steffen
  • Schneider, Sebastian
  • Sutter, Matthias

Abstract

We measure the prevalence of discrimination between Jordanian host and Syrian refugee children attending school in Jordan. Using a simple sharing experiment, we find only little discrimination. Among the Jordanian children, however, we see that those who descended from Palestinian refugees do not discriminate at all, suggesting that a family history of refugee status can generate solidarity with new refugees. We also find that parents' narratives about the refugee crisis are correlated with the degree of discrimination, suggesting that discriminatory preferences are being transmitted through parental attitudes.

Suggested Citation

  • Barron, Kai & Harmgart, Heike & Huck, Steffen & Schneider, Sebastian & Sutter, Matthias, 2020. "Discrimination, narratives and family history: An experiment with Jordanian host and Syrian refugee children," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Economics of Change SP II 2020-304, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:wzbeoc:spii2020304
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    Cited by:

    1. Assaad, Ragui & Ginn, Thomas & Saleh, Mohamed, 2023. "Refugees and the education of host populations: Evidence from the Syrian inflow to Jordan," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    2. Peter Andre & Ingar Haaland & Christopher Roth & Johannes Wohlfart, 2021. "Narratives about the Macroeconomy," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 127, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    3. Diego Aycinena & Francisco B. Galarza Arellano & Javier Torres, 2024. "Interactions in a High Immigration Context," Working Papers 199, Peruvian Economic Association.
    4. Betts, Alexander & Flinder Stierna, Maria & Omata, Naohiko & Sterck, Olivier, 2023. "Refugees welcome? Inter-group interaction and host community attitude formation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    5. Livia Hazer & Gustaf Gredebäck, 2023. "The effects of war, displacement, and trauma on child development," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, December.
    6. Barron, Kai & Fries, Tilman, 2023. "Narrative persuasion," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Economics of Change SP II 2023-301, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    discrimination; refugees; children; experiment; integration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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