Abstract:
Based on insights from social psychology, I propose a model in which an agent from a majority sequentially learns about the average ability of a minority. He updates his beliefs overweighting the importance of certain explanatory personal traits based on how salient they are among the minority vis-a-vis the majority. The model can account for several stylized facts: i) The agent will hold persistently wrong and negative beliefs about the minority; ii) he will be subject to in-group bias, exhibiting overly positive beliefs about his own group; and iii) the arrival of a new minority can improve the majority's perception of the old minority. Additionally, it predicts that iv) stereotyping is particularly extreme if the agent learns mostly from "tokens," and that v) affirmative action aimed at one minority can decrease stereotyping against them but will increase stereotyping against other minorities. Finally, the model provides a link between the two classical types of discrimination—statistical and taste-based—and inaccurate statistical discrimination which is based on incorrect beliefs about the minority.
The seminar will be held in room 1249 (12th floor) at Eilert Sundts Hus. The address is Moltke Moes vei 31.