多阶段系统中的歧视：来自儿童保护的证据

中文摘要

我们开发了研究多阶段系统中歧视现象的实证工具，并将其应用于儿童保护服务机构安排寄养的情境。利用两组决策者——最初的热线来电筛查员和后续调查员——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导。基于超过20万起虐待指控的样本，我们发现，在家庭中未来遭受虐待的潜在可能性相同的情况下，涉及黑人儿童的来电最终导致寄养安置的可能性比涉及白人儿童的来电高55%。来电筛查员至多解释了这一无正当依据差异的19%，其余部分则归因于调查员。无正当依据的差异集中在未来可能发生虐待的案件中，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.