Discrimination with inaccurate beliefs and confirmation bias

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Year: 2023
Volume: 210
Issue: C
Pages: 379-390

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

We examine patterns of discrimination when employers hold incorrect beliefs about the relationship between group membership and productivity, and suffer from confirmation bias when updating their beliefs. As a result, employers do not correct them fully, leading to persistent wage discrimination. Negative stereotypes generate discrimination against minority workers upon entry to the labor market, but are not enough to have discrimination in the long run, and reversals in discrimination are possible. We also discuss whether interventions aimed at reducing discrimination would succeed if confirmation bias is an important source of discrimination, and consider segregation in an extension with heterogeneous employers.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jeborg:v:210:y:2023:i:c:p:379-390
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29