Tall or Taller, Pretty or Prettier: Is Discrimination Absolute or Relative?

Daniel Hamermesh

No 6579, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using several microeconomic data sets from the United States and the Netherlands, and the examples of height and beauty, this study examines whether: 1) Absolute or relative differences in a characteristic are what affect labor-market and other outcomes; and 2) The effects of a characteristic change when all agents acquire more of it – become taller or better-looking. Confronted with a choice among individuals, decision-makers respond more to absolute than to relative differences among them. Also, an increase in the mean of a characteristic's distribution does not alter market responses to differences in it.

Keywords: height; market responses; discrimination; beauty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J71 J78 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2012-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-lab and nep-ltv
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published - published in: IZA Journal of Labor Economics, 2012, 1:2

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Related works:
Journal Article: Tall or taller, pretty or prettier: is discrimination absolute or relative? (2012)
Working Paper: Tall or Taller, Pretty or Prettier: Is Discrimination Absolute or Relative? (2012)
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