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KATE ANTONOVICS
University of California, San Diego
BRIAN G. KNIGHT
Brown University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
July 2004
NBER Working Paper No. W10634
Abstract:
This paper provides new evidence on the role of preference-based versus statistical discrimination in racial profiling using a unique data set that includes the race of both the driver and the officer. We first generalize the model presented in Knowles, Persico and Todd (2001) and show that the fundamental insight that allows them to distinguish between statistical discrimination and preference-based discrimination depends on the specialized shapes of the best response functions in their model. Thus, the test that they employ is not robust to a range of alternative modeling assumptions. However, we also show that if statistical discrimination alone explains differences in the rate at which the vehicles of drivers of different races are searched, then search decisions should be independent of officer race. We then test this prediction using data from the Boston Police Department. Consistent with preference-based discrimination, our baseline results demonstrate that officers are more likely to conduct a search if the race of the officer differs from the race of the driver. We then investigate and rule out two alternative explanations for our findings: race-based informational asymmetries between officers and the assignment of officers to neighborhoods.
JEL Classifications: K0, H0
Working Paper Series
Abstract has been viewed 64 times
Contact Information for BRIAN G. KNIGHT (Contact Author)
Email address for BRIAN G. KNIGHT
Brown University - Department of Economics
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Providence , RI 02912
United States
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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
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Contact Information for KATE ANTONOVICS
Email address for KATE ANTONOVICS
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
Mail Code 0502
La Jolla , CA 92093-0502
United States
858-534-2973 (Phone)
Suggested Citation
Antonovics, Kate and Knight, Brian G., "A New Look at Racial Profiling: Evidence from the Boston Police Department" (July 2004). NBER Working Paper No. W10634. http://ssrn.com/abstract=565845
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Aug 04, 2004 |
879K | 7.35 minutes |
nber_w10634.pdf |
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