Physical Disability and Labor Market Discrimination: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Arbeitspapier

We investigate the determinants and extent of labor market discrimination toward people with physical disabilities using a large scale field experiment. Applications were randomly sent to 1477 private firms advertising open positions. We find that average callback rates of disabled and non-disabled applicants are respectively 14.4% and 7.2%. We find this differential does not result from accessibility constraints related to firm infrastructures. We also find that mentioning eligibility to a government subsidy to cover the cost of workplace adaptation does not increase callback rates. Finally, we estimate that a lower bound of the proportion of discriminating firms is 49.7%.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 11461

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Labor Discrimination ; Mobility, Unemployment, and Vacancies: Public Policy
• Subject: discrimination ; disabilities ; partial identification

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Bellemare, Charles ; Goussé, Marion ; Lacroix, Guy ; Marchand, Steeve
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2018

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/180479
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET