American Behavioral Scientist

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Baumle, A. K.
Right arrow Articles by Fossett, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 48, No. 9, 1250-1274 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0002764205274818

Statistical Discrimination in Employment

Its Practice, Conceptualization, and Implications for Public Policy

Amanda K. Baumle

Texas A&M University, amandabaumle{at}hotmail.com

Mark Fossett

Texas A&M University

The phenomenon of statistical discrimination may take on increasing importance in the future as "traditional" prejudice-based discrimination slowly fades. This article considers how statistical discrimination compares with perspectives on discrimination in sociology, economics, and law. Statistical discrimination fits well with mainstream perspectives in economics, suggesting it is likely to be a common practice and endure even as racial prejudice declines. Statistical discrimination is less central in sociological perspectives on discrimination because they tend to focus on prejudice-based discrimination, ethnic conflict and stratification, and how ethnic group interests are embedded in social institutions. In the area of law, statistical discrimination is treated differently in different situations—sometimes allowable, other times prohibited. The authors note some characteristics of statistical discrimination that set it apart from other forms of discrimination and consider whether standard policies aimed at reducing racial discrimination in employment are likely to be effective in combating statistical discrimination.

Key Words: statistical discrimination • workplace • race


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?