Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/216732 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
DICE Discussion Paper No. 338
Publisher: 
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE), Düsseldorf
Abstract: 
Debates about affirmative action often revolve around fairness. Accordingly, we document substantial heterogeneity in the fairness perception of various affirmative action policies. But do these differences translate into different consequences? In a laboratory experiment, we study three different quota rules that favor individuals whose performance is low, either due to bad luck (discrimination), low productivity, or choice of a short working time. Higher fairness perceptions coincide with a higher willingness to compete and less retaliation against winners. No policy harms overall efficiency or post-competition teamwork. Furthermore, individuals seem to internalize the normbehind the policies that are perceived as fairest.
Subjects: 
affirmative action
fairness ideals
experiment
tournament
real effort
JEL: 
C91
D02
D63
ISBN: 
978-3-86304-337-7
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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