多阶段系统中的歧视：来自儿童保护的证据

Quarterly Journal of Economics · 2024 · [{"name": "E. Jason Baron", "affiliation": ["National Bureau of Economic Research"]}, {"name": "Joseph Doyle", "affiliation": ["National Bureau of Economic Research", "Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology", "Massachusetts Institute of Technology"]}, {"name": "Natalia Emanuel", "affiliation": ["Federal Reserve Bank of New York"]}, {"name": "Peter Hull", "affiliation": ["National Bureau of Economic Research", "Brown University"]}, {"name": "Joseph J. Ryan", "affiliation": ["University of Michigan", "Michigan United"]}]

中文摘要

我们开发了一套研究多阶段系统中歧视问题的实证工具，并将其应用于儿童保护服务机构的寄养安置情境。利用两组决策者——最初的热线来电筛查员与后续调查员——的准随机分派，我们研究了无正当依据的种族差异如何在该系统中产生并传递。基于超过20万起虐待指控样本，我们发现，在家庭中未来遭受虐待的可能性相同的情况下，涉及黑人儿童的来电导致寄养安置的可能性比涉及白人儿童的来电高55%。热线来电筛查员至多可解释这种无正当依据差异的19%，其余部分则由调查员造成。无正当依据的差异集中于具有未来虐待潜力的案件中，这表明白人儿童可能因在高风险情境下'安置不足'而受到伤害。

Abstract

We develop empirical tools for studying discrimination in multi-phase systems, and apply them to the setting of foster care placement by child protective services. Leveraging the quasi-random assignment of two sets of decision-makers-initial hotline call screeners and subsequent investigators-we study how unwarranted racial disparities arise and propagate through this system. Using a sample of over 200,000 maltreatment allegations, we find that calls involving Black children are 55% more likely to result in foster care placement than calls involving white children with the same potential for future maltreatment in the home. Call screeners account for up to 19% of this unwarranted disparity, with the remainder due to investigators. Unwarranted disparity is concentrated in cases with potential for future maltreatment, suggesting that white children may be harmed by "under-placement" in high-risk situations.