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The Migrant Penalty in Latin America: Experimental Evidence from Job Recruiters

Author

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  • Zanoni, Wladimir
  • Fabregas, Raissa
Abstract
We conducted an artifactual field experiment with human resource recruiters in Ecuador to investigate the extent to which migrants are penalized in the labor market. Human resource recruiters were hired to evaluate pairs of job candidates competing for jobs. The candidate profiles were observationally equivalent, except that one was randomly assigned to be a Venezuelan migrant. Recruiters assessed job fitness, proposed wages for each candidate, and made hiring recommendations. We find robust evidence of a penalty against migrants across all dimensions. Venezuelans are penalized despite being from a population who shares cultural, historical, and linguistic characteristics with natives and has, on average, higher levels of education. We do not find evidence that recruiters demographic characteristics, experience, cognitive scores, or personality traits correlate with a preference for natives. Instead, there is suggestive evidence that jobs requiring a greater degree of local knowledge or public interface carry a higher migrant penalty.

Suggested Citation

  • Zanoni, Wladimir & Fabregas, Raissa, 2024. "The Migrant Penalty in Latin America: Experimental Evidence from Job Recruiters," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13804, Inter-American Development Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:13804
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0013222
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Migrant; labor market; Wage; discrimination;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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