Discrimination in Multi-Phase Systems: Evidence from Child Protection

E. Jason Baron, Joseph J. Doyle, Natalia Emanuel, Peter Hull and Joseph P. Ryan

No 31490, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We develop empirical tools for studying discrimination in multi-phase systems, and apply them to the setting of foster care placement by child protective services. Leveraging the quasi-random assignment of two sets of decision-makers—initial hotline call screeners and subsequent investigators—we study how unwarranted racial disparities arise and propagate through this system. Using a sample of over 200,000 maltreatment allegations, we find that calls involving Black children are 55% more likely to result in foster care placement than calls involving white children with the same potential for future maltreatment in the home. Call screeners account for up to 19% of this unwarranted disparity, with the remainder due to investigators. Unwarranted disparity is concentrated in cases with potential for future maltreatment, suggesting that white children may be harmed by “under-placement” in high-risk situations.

JEL-codes: C26 I31 J13 J15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-ure
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Journal Article: Discrimination in Multiphase Systems: Evidence from Child Protection* (2024)
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