As argued above, correspondence studies adequately address concerns of
individual differences in unobservable determinants of productivity. Heckman and
Siegelman (1993) show, however, that group differences in the variance of these
unobservable determinants may still lead to spurious evidence of discrimination.
To see this more clearly for the case of gender discrimination in hiring, assume
that both the average observed and the average unobserved determinants of
productivity are the same for male and female candidates for an unfilled vacancy,
but that the variance of unobservable job-relevant characteristics is, at least in the
perception of the employer, higher for females than for males. In addition, suppose
that the employer considers the observed determinants of productivity, inferred
from the CV and the motivation letter, as relatively low compared to the job
requirement. In that case it is rational for the employer to invite the female and not
the male candidate, since it is more likely that the sum of observed and unobserved
productivity is higher for the female candidates. A correspondence test that detects
discrimination against females could therefore underestimate the extent of
discrimination against females.3
As argued above, correspondence studies adequately address concerns ofindividual differences in unobservable determinants of productivity. Heckman andSiegelman (1993) show, however, that group differences in the variance of theseunobservable determinants may still lead to spurious evidence of discrimination.To see this more clearly for the case of gender discrimination in hiring, assumethat both the average observed and the average unobserved determinants ofproductivity are the same for male and female candidates for an unfilled vacancy,but that the variance of unobservable job-relevant characteristics is, at least in theperception of the employer, higher for females than for males. In addition, supposethat the employer considers the observed determinants of productivity, inferredfrom the CV and the motivation letter, as relatively low compared to the jobrequirement. In that case it is rational for the employer to invite the female and notthe male candidate, since it is more likely that the sum of observed and unobservedproductivity is higher for the female candidates. A correspondence test that detectsdiscrimination against females could therefore underestimate the extent ofdiscrimination against females.3
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
