Racial Preferences in Dating

S-Tier
Journal: Review of Economic Studies
Year: 2008
Volume: 75
Issue: 1
Pages: 117-132

Authors (4)

Raymond Fisman (Boston University) Sheena S. Iyengar (not in RePEc) Emir Kamenica (not in RePEc) Itamar Simonson (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

We examine racial preferences in dating. We employ a Speed Dating experiment that allows us to directly observe individual decisions and thus infer whose preferences lead to racial segregation in romantic relationships. Females exhibit stronger racial preferences than males. The richness of our data further allows us to identify many determinants of same-race preferences. Subjects' backgrounds, including the racial composition of the ZIP code where a subject grew up and the prevailing racial attitudes in a subject's state or country of origin, strongly influence same-race preferences. Older subjects and more physically attractive subjects exhibit weaker same-race preferences. Copyright 2008, Wiley-Blackwell.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:restud:v:75:y:2008:i:1:p:117-132
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25