The law and economics of antidiscrimination law
By: John J. Donohue, III.
Contributors: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series ;; working paper 11631; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) ;; working paper no. 11631.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Race discrimination -- Economic aspects -- United States.; Discrimination in employment -- United States.; Discrimination in housing -- United States.; Race discrimination -- Law and legislation -- United States.
Description: "This essay provides an overview of the central theoretical law and economics insights concerning antidiscrimination law across a variety of contexts including discrimination in labor markets, housing markets, consumer purchases, and policing.  The different models of discrimination based on animus, statistical discrimination, and cartel exploitation are analyzed for both race and sex discrimination.  I explore the theoretical arguments for prohibiting private discriminatory conduct and illustrates the tensions that exist between concerns for liberty and equality.  I also discuss the critical point that one cannot automatically attribute observed disparities in various economic or social outcomes to discrimination, and illustrate the complexities in establishing the existence of discrimination.  The major empirical findings showing the effectiveness of federal law in the first decade after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act are contrasted with the generally less optimistic findings from subsequent antidiscrimination interventions"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
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Mode of access: World Wide Web.