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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title How costly is diversity? Affirmative action in light of gender differences in competitiveness
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Carmit Segal
  • Muriel Niederle
  • Lise Vesterlund
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Management Science
Publisher Institute for Operations Research and the Management Science
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 0025-1909
Volume 59
Number 1
Page Range 1 - 16
Date 2013
Abstract Text Affirmative action is often criticized for causing reverse discrimination and lowering thequalifications of those hired under the policy. However the magnitude of such adverse effectsdepends on whether the best suited candidate is hired absent the policy. Indeed affirmative actionmay compensate for the distortion discrimination imposes on the selection of candidates. Thispaper asks whether affirmative action can have a similar corrective impact when qualifiedindividuals fail to apply for a job. We evaluate the effect of introducing a gender quota in anenvironment where high performing women fail to enter competitions they can win. We showthat guaranteeing women equal representation among winners increases their entry. The responseexceeds that predicted by the change in probability of winning, and is in part driven by womenbeing more willing to compete against other women. The consequences are substantial as theboost in supply essentially eliminates the anticipated costs of the policy.
Zusammenfassung
Digital Object Identifier 10.1287/mnsc.1120.1602
Other Identification Number merlin-id:7642
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