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Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 139 No. 3 2024

Discrimination in Multiphase Systems: Evidence from Child Protection

E Jason Baron1; Joseph Doyle2; Natalia Emanuel3; Peter Hull4; Joseph J. Ryan5

1 Duke University and National Bureau of Economic Research , United States · 2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology and National Bureau of Economic Research, United States · 3 Federal Reserve Bank of New York , United States · 4 Brown University and National Bureau of Economic Research , United States · 5 University of Michigan , United States

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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.

DOI
10.1093/qje/qjae007
Volume
139
Issue
3
Pages
1611-1664
Language
en
Sources
openalex bibtex:phds-export.bib crossref

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