Labor market discrimination and racial differences in premarket factors
By: by Pedro Carneiro, James J. Heckman, Dimitriy V. Masterov.
Contributors: Heckman, James J.
Series: Discussion paper ;; no. 1453; Discussion paper (Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit : Online) ;; no. 1453
Publisher: IZA
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Bonn, Germany
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Cognitive learning.; Academic achievement.; Race discrimination.; Labor market.
Description: "We investigate the relative significance of differences in cognitive skills and discrimination in explaining racial/ethnic wage gaps. We show that cognitive test scores taken prior to entering the labor market are influenced by schooling. Adjusting the scores for racial/ethnic differences in education at the time the test is taken reduces their role in accounting for the wage gaps. We also consider evidence on parental and child expectations about education and on stereotype-threat effects. We find both factors to be implausible alternative explanations for the gaps we observe. We argue that policies need to address the sources of early skill gaps and to seek to influence the more malleable behavioral abilities in addition to their cognitive counterparts. Such policies are far more likely to be effective in promoting racial and ethnic equality for most groups than are additional civil rights and affirmative action policies targeted at the workplace"--Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit web site.
Notes: Also available in print.
Includes bibliographical references.
Title from PDF file as viewed on 4/27/2005.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.