Title

Statistical Discrimination and Affirmative Action in the Lab

Author(s)

Ahrash Dianat Ahrash Dianat (University of Essex)

Federico Echenique Federico Echenique (Caltech)

Leeat Yariv Leeat Yariv (Princeton University)

Abstract

We present results from laboratory experiments studying statistical discrimination and affirmative action. We induce statistical discrimination in simple labor-market interactions between firms and workers. We then introduce affirmative-action policies that vary in the size and duration of a subsidy that firms receive for hiring discriminated against workers. These different affirmative-action policies have nearly the same effect, and practically eliminate discriminatory hiring practices. However, once lifted, few positive effects remain and discrimination reverts to its initial levels. One exception is lengthy affirmative-action policies, which exhibit somewhat longer-lived effects. Stickiness of beliefs, which we elicit, helps explain the observed outcomes.

Creation Date

2021-10

Section URL ID

Paper Number

2020-46

URL

http://lyariv.mycpanel.princeton.edu//papers/AffirmativeAction.pdf

File Function

Jel

J71, D04, C91

Keyword(s)

Statistical Discrimination, Affirmative Action, Experiments

Suppress

false

Series

13