Baron E Jason, Doyle Joseph J, Emanuel Natalia, Hull Peter, Ryan Joseph
Duke University and NBER.
MIT and NBER.
Q J Econ. 2024 Aug;139(3):1611-1664. doi: 10.1093/qje/qjae007. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
We develop empirical tools for studying discrimination in multi-phase systems, and apply them to the setting of foster care placement by child protective services. Leveraging the quasi-random assignment of two sets of decision-makers-initial hotline call screeners and subsequent investigators-we study how unwarranted racial disparities arise and propagate through this system. Using a sample of over 200,000 maltreatment allegations, we find that calls involving Black children are 55% more likely to result in foster care placement than calls involving white children with the same potential for future maltreatment in the home. Call screeners account for up to 19% of this unwarranted disparity, with the remainder due to investigators. Unwarranted disparity is concentrated in cases with potential for future maltreatment, suggesting that white children may be harmed by "under-placement" in high-risk situations.
我们开发了用于研究多阶段系统中歧视现象的实证工具，并将其应用于儿童保护服务机构进行寄养安置的场景。利用两组决策者（初始热线电话筛选员和后续调查员）的准随机分配，我们研究了无端的种族差异是如何在这个系统中产生和传播的。通过对超过20万起虐待指控的样本进行分析，我们发现，与涉及未来在家中遭受虐待可能性相同的白人儿童的电话相比，涉及黑人儿童的电话导致寄养安置的可能性要高出55%。电话筛选员造成的无端差异高达19%，其余差异则归因于调查员。无端差异集中在有未来虐待可能性的案例中，这表明白人儿童可能会因在高风险情况下“安置不足”而受到伤害。
