A NEW LOOK AT RACIAL PROFILING: EVIDENCE FROM THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Antonovics, Kate; Knight, Brian G.
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California San Diego; Brown University
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest.91.1.163
• 发表日期: 2009-02
• 页码: 163-177
• 关键词: motor-vehicle searches

摘要

This paper provides new evidence on racial profiling using information on the race of both motorists and officers. Extending the model of Knowles, Persico, and Todd (2001), we develop a new test for distinguishing between preference-based and statistical discrimination. Our test is based on the notion that if search decisions are driven purely by statistical discrimination, then they should be independent of officer race. Our results, by contrast, demonstrate that officers are more likely to search if officer race and driver race differ. We then investigate and rule out two alternative explanations for our findings.