Abstract
We study ethnic discrimination in the sharing economy using the example of online carpooling marketplaces. Based on a unique data set of 16,624 real rides from Germany, we estimate the effects of drivers' perceived name origins on the demand for rides. The results show sizable ethnic discrimination - a discriminatory price premium of about 32 per cent of the average market price. Further analyses suggest that additional information about actors in this market decreases the magnitude of ethnic discrimination. Our findings broaden the perspective of ethnic discrimination by shedding light on subtle, everyday forms of discrimination in social markets, inform ongoing discussions about ways to address discrimination in an era in which markets gradually move online, and respond to increasingly recognized limitations of experimental approaches to study discrimination.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 418-432 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | European Sociological Review |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Funding
For some periods during the research conducted for this paper, Jasper Dag Tjaden was financially supported by the German Research Foundation through their Excellence Initiative and the Fulbright Commission.
Funders | Funder number |
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US-UK Fulbright Commission | |
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft |