Cycles of Wage Discrimination
38 Pages Posted: 4 Sep 2011
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Cycles of Wage Discrimination
Cycles of Wage Discrimination
Abstract
Using CPS data from 1979-2009 we examine how cyclical downturns and industry-specific demand shocks affect wage differentials between white non-Hispanic males and women, Hispanics and African-Americans. Women's and Hispanics' relative earnings are harmed by negative shocks, while the earnings disadvantage of African-Americans may drop with negative shocks. Negative shocks also appear to increase the earnings disadvantage of bad-looking workers. A theory of job search suggests two opposite-signed mechanisms that affect these wage differentials. It suggests greater absolute effects among job-movers, which is verified using the longitudinal component of the CPS.
Keywords: women, minorities, beauty, search models
JEL Classification: E29, J71
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation