Belief Flipping in a Dynamic Model of Statistical Discrimination

Roland Fryer ()

No 12174, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: The literature on statistical discrimination shows that ex-ante identical groups may be differentially treated in discriminatory equilibria. This paper constructs a dynamic model of statistical discrimination and explores what happens to the individuals who nonetheless overcome the initial discrimination. If an employer discriminates against a group of workers in her initial hiring, she may actually favor the successful members of that group when she promotes from within the firm. The worker's welfare implications (i.e. who benefits from an employer's discriminatory hiring practices) are unclear. Even though agents face discrimination initially, some may be better off because of it.

JEL-codes: J7 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006-04
Note: LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Published as Fryer, Ronald G. Jr. "Belief flipping in a dynamic model of statistical discrimination." Journal of Public Economics 91, 5-6 (June 2007): 1151-1166.

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