Review of Economic Studies Vol. 75 No. 1 2008

Racial Preferences in Dating

Raymond Fisman^1,2; Sheena S. Iyengar^1,2; Emir Kamenica³; Itamar Simonson⁴

¹ Columbia University · ² Graduate School USA · ³ University of Chicago · ⁴ Stanford University

Abstract

We examine racial preferences in dating. We employ a Speed Dating experiment that allows us to directly observe individual decisions and thus infer whose preferences lead to racial segregation in romantic relationships. Females exhibit stronger racial preferences than males. The richness of our data further allows us to identify many determinants of same-race preferences. Subjects' backgrounds, including the racial composition of the ZIP code where a subject grew up and the prevailing racial attitudes in a subject's state or country of origin, strongly influence same-race preferences. Older subjects and more physically attractive subjects exhibit weaker same-race preferences.

DOI

10.1111/j.1467-937x.2007.00465.x

Volume

75

Issue

1

Pages

117-132

Language

en

Sources

bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

Cite

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