An Alternative Test of Racial Prejudice in Motor Vehicle Searches: Theory and Evidence

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2006
Volume: 96
Issue: 1
Pages: 127-151

Authors (2)

Shamena Anwar (not in RePEc) Hanming Fang (University of Pennsylvania)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

We propose a simple model of trooper behavior to design empirical tests for whether troopers of different races are monolithic in their search behavior, and whether they exhibit relative racial prejudice in motor vehicle searches. Our test of relative racial prejudice provides a partial solution to the well-known infra-marginality and omitted-variables problems associated with outcome tests. When applied to a unique dataset from Florida, our tests soundly reject the hypothesis that troopers of different races are monolithic in their search behavior, but the tests fail to reject the hypothesis that troopers of different races do not exhibit relative racial prejudice.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:96:y:2006:i:1:p:127-151
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25