On the social inappropriateness of discrimination

Barr, Abigail; Lane, Tom; Nosenzo, Daniele

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the relationship between discriminatory behaviour and the perceived social inappropriateness of discrimination. We conjecture that discrimination will be weaker when social norms oppose it. Our results support this prediction. Using a Krupka-Weber social norm elicitation task, we find participants perceive it to be more socially inappropriate to discriminate on the basis of nationality than on the basis of social identities artificially induced using a trivial minimal group technique. Correspondingly, we find that participants discriminate more in the artificial identity setting. Our results suggest norms and the preference to comply with them affect discriminatory decisions and that the social inappropriateness of discrimination moderates discriminatory behaviour.

Citation

Barr, A., Lane, T., & Nosenzo, D. (2018). On the social inappropriateness of discrimination. Journal of Public Economics, 164, 153-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2018.06.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 11, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jun 18, 2018
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Deposit Date: Aug 3, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 3, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Public Economics
• Print ISSN: 0047-2727
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 164
• Pages: 153-164
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2018.06.004
• Keywords: Discrimination; Social norms; Krupka-Weber method; Allocator game
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/926032
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047272718301154
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: On the social inappropriateness of discrimination; Journal Title: Journal of Public Economics; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2018.06.004; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.