Discrimination in American and European Labor Markets: An International Meta-analysis of Field Experiments

• In Event: 362 - Regular Session. Labor Market 2

Abstract

Studies suggest that labor market discrimination against racial and ethnic minority groups is present in most countries around the world. Yet little is established about how discrimination rates vary across countries and the influence of national conditions on discrimination rates. We address this gap through a cross-national meta-analysis analysis of field experiments. Field experiments of hiring discrimination are experimental studies in which fictionalized candidates from different race or ethnic group apply for jobs. We focus on contrasts for eight countries with extensive numbers of field experiments: the United States, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Sweden, and Germany. Based on 83 field experiments containing 142 estimates of hiring discrimination against racial or ethnic minority groups, we find considerable variation in hiring discrimination across countries. France has the highest rates of discrimination. Great Britain, Sweden, Canada, and Belgium all have similar rates. The U.S. is a bit lower than these countries. Finally, the Netherlands and Germany have lower rates. The non-white groups in our analysis experience fairly similar rates of hiring discrimination; European immigrants experience much lower rates of discrimination. Discrimination by country and target group can be accounted for well by a simple additive model of country and target group effects. Implications for theories of discrimination are discussed.

Authors

• Ole Hexel, Northwestern University

• Lincoln G. Quillian, Northwestern University