Working Paper: NBER ID: w11264
Authors: Shamena Anwar; Hanming Fang
Abstract: We propose a simple model of trooper behavior to design empirical tests for whether troopers of different races are monolithic in their search behavior, and whether they exhibit relative racial prejudice in motor vehicle searches. Our test of relative racial prejudice provides a partial solution to the well-known infra-marginality and omitted variables problems associated with outcome tests. When applied to a unique data set from Florida, our tests soundly reject the hypothesis that troopers of different races are monolithic in their search behavior, but fail to reject the hypothesis that troopers of different races do not exhibit relative racial prejudice.
Keywords: Racial Profiling; Statistical Discrimination; Police Behavior
JEL Codes: J7
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Troopers of different races are not monolithic in their search behavior (J15) | Search rates for motorists of various races (J15) |
| Search success rates for different racial groups of motorists do not significantly depend on the race of the trooper conducting the search (J15) | Evidence against relative racial prejudice (J15) |