Arbeitspapier

Attention Discrimination: Theory and Field Experiments with Monitoring Information Acquisition

We link two important ideas: attention is scarce and lack of information about an individual drives discrimination in selection decisions. Our model of allocation of costly attention implies that applicants from negatively stereotyped groups face attention discrimination: less attention in highly selective cherry-picking markets, where more attention helps applicants, and more attention in lemon-dropping markets, where it harms them. To test the prediction, we integrate tools to monitor information acquisition into correspondence field experiments. In both countries we study we find that unfavorable signals, minority names, or unemployment, systematically reduce employers' efforts to inspect resumes. Also consistent with the model, in the rental housing market, which is much less selective than labor markets, we find landlords acquire more information about minority relative to majority applicants. We discuss implications of endogenous attention for magnitude and persistence of discrimination in selection decisions, returns to human capital and, potentially, for policy.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 8058

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Field Experiments
Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
Labor Discrimination
Thema
discrimination
attention
field experiment
monitoring information acquisition

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Bartoš, Vojtěch
Bauer, Michal
Chytilová, Julie
Matějka, Filip
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
(wo)
Bonn
(wann)
2014

Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:44 MEZ

Datenpartner

Dieses Objekt wird bereitgestellt von:
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. Bei Fragen zum Objekt wenden Sie sich bitte an den Datenpartner.

Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Bartoš, Vojtěch
  • Bauer, Michal
  • Chytilová, Julie
  • Matějka, Filip
  • Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Entstanden

  • 2014

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