Do landlords discriminate in the rental housing market? Evidence from an internet field experiment in US cities

Andrew Hanson and Zackary Hawley

Journal of Urban Economics, 2011, vol. 70, issue 2-3, 99-114

Abstract: This paper tests for racial discrimination in the rental housing market using matched-pair audits conducted via e-mail for rental units advertised on-line. We reveal home-seekers' race to landlords by sending e-mails from names with a high likelihood of association with either whites or African Americans. Generally, discrimination occurs against African American names; however, when the content of the e-mail messages insinuates home-seekers with high social class, discrimination is non-existent. Racial discrimination is more severe in neighborhoods that are near "tipping points" in racial composition, and for units that are part of a larger building.

Keywords: Racial; discrimination; Rental; housing; Field; experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (101)

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Journal Article: Do landlords discriminate in the rental housing market? Evidence from an internet field experiment in US cities (2011)
Working Paper: Do Landlords Discriminate in the Rental Housing Market? Evidence from an Internet Field Experiment in U.S. Cities (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:juecon:v:70:y:2011:i:2-3:p:99-114

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