Contagious Animosity in the Field: Evidence from the Federal Criminal Justice System

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2021
Volume: 39
Issue: 3
Pages: 739 - 785

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We investigate whether increased animosity toward Muslims after 9/11 had spillover effects on Black and Hispanic individuals in the federal criminal justice system. Using linked administrative data tracking defendants from arrest through sentencing, we find that after 9/11, sentence and presentence outcomes for Hispanic defendants significantly worsened. Outcomes for Black defendants were unchanged. The findings are consistent with judges and prosecutors displaying social preferences characterized by contagious animosity from Muslims to Hispanics. Our findings provide among the first field evidence of contagious animosity, indicating that social preferences across out-groups are interlinked and malleable.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/711180
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26