Immigrants and Italian labor market: statistical or taste-based discrimination?

Busetta, Giovanni; Campolo, Maria Gabriella; Panarello, Demetrio

Types of discrimination are usually distinguished by economic theory in statistical and taste-based. Using a correspondence experiment, we analyze which of the two affects Italian labor market the most. In this respect, we studied the difference in discrimination reserved to first- and second-generation immigrants, taking gender differences into account. Even if we want to admit a rational discrimination based on perceived productivity differences (statistical discrimination) against first-generation immigrants (concerning language and education gaps), the same would not be reasonable for second-generation ones. Since they are born and educated in Italy, where they have always lived, the associated discrimination must be taste-based.

Genus, 2018, Vol 74, Issue 1, pN.PAG

0016-6987

Academic Journal

10.1186/s41118-018-0030-1