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Discrimination in the laboratory: A meta-analysis of economics experiments

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Tom Lane

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Abstract

Economists are increasingly using experiments to study and measure discrimination between groups. In a meta-analysis containing 441 results from 77 studies, we find groups significantly discriminate against each other in roughly a third of cases. Discrimination varies depending upon the type of group identity being studied: it is stronger when identity is artificially induced in the laboratory than when the subject pool is divided by ethnicity or nationality, and higher still when participants are split into socially or geographically distinct groups. In gender discrimination experiments, there is significant favouritism towards the opposite gender. There is evidence for both taste-based and statistical discrimination; tastes drive the general pattern of discrimination against out-groups, but statistical beliefs are found to affect discrimination in specific instances. Relative to all other decision-making contexts, discrimination is much stronger when participants are asked to allocate payoffs between passive in-group and out-group members. Students and non-students appear to discriminate equally. We discuss possible interpretations and implications of our findings.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Lane T

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: European Economic Review

Year: 2016

Volume: 90

Pages: 375-402

Print publication date: 01/11/2016

Online publication date: 01/01/2016

Acceptance date: 01/12/2015

Date deposited: 05/09/2023

ISSN (print): 1873-572X

ISSN (electronic): 0014-2921

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2015.11.011

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2015.11.011

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