Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/58571 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 6203
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In a laboratory experiment, we show that subjects incorporate irrelevant group information into their evaluations of individuals. Individuals from on average worse performing groups receive lower evaluations, even if they are known to perform equally well as individuals from better performing groups. Our experiment leaves room neither for statistical nor taste-based discrimination. The discrimination we find is rather due to conservatism in updating beliefs. This conservatism is more pronounced in females. Furthermore, self-confident male evaluators overvalue male performers. Additionally, we use our data to simulate a job promotion ladder: Few rounds of moderate discrimination virtually eliminate females in higher positions.
Subjects: 
updating
conservatism
gender
discrimination
self-confidence
JEL: 
J16
C91
D81
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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