Working Paper: NBER ID: w26465
Authors: Ricardo Dahis; Emily Nix; Nancy Qian
Abstract: This paper documents that a large number of African American men experienced a change in racial identity to white during 1880 to 1940, while analogous changes were negligible for other races. We provide descriptive evidence that is consistent with the conventional wisdom that “passing” for white was a response to severe discrimination, and came at great personal cost. The findings suggest that contrary to traditional economic thinking, racial identity is neither entirely exogenous nor fixed over the lifetime, and responds to incentives.
Keywords: Racial Identity; Passing; Discrimination; Economic History
JEL Codes: J1; J15; N3
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| racial identity (J15) | socio-economic opportunities (O17) |
| passing for white (J79) | income (E25) |
| passing for white (J79) | geographic relocation (J61) |
| socio-economic incentives (O35) | passing for white (J79) |
| passing for white (J79) | reverse-passing back to black (Y60) |
| discrimination (J71) | passing for white (J79) |
| better educational opportunities (I24) | passing for white (J79) |