Discussion Paper
No. 2014-35 | September 03, 2014
Ágnes Horváth and Béla Janky
Ethnic Stereotypes and Preferences on Poverty Assistance

Abstract

The authors introduce a simple model of public preferences on poverty assistance. Their focus is on the roles played by the socioeconomic status of a potential welfare recipient and the stereotypes about his/her ethnic group in shaping taxpayers’ preferences on appropriate assistance. The model assumes that status not only informs one about the recipient’s material needs but also sends noisy signals about his/her 'deservingness'. Ethnic stereotypes about work ethic, in turn, help to process those noisy signals. The authors show that the influence of stereotypes on welfare preferences tends to diminish as the status of a potential recipient approaches middle-class standards. Their model points to the potential of institutional and media framing of poverty assistance in the ethnicization of welfare preferences.

JEL Classification:

H8, I3

Cite As

Ágnes Horváth and Béla Janky (2014). Ethnic Stereotypes and Preferences on Poverty Assistance. Economics Discussion Papers, No 2014-35, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. http://www.economics-ejournal.org/economics/discussionpapers/2014-35


Comments and Questions



Anonymous - Invited Reader Comment
October 14, 2014 - 09:44
see attached file

Anonymous - Invited Reader Comment
October 15, 2014 - 08:37
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Anonymous - Referee Report 1
October 16, 2014 - 10:25
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Anonymous - Referee Report 2
October 16, 2014 - 10:26
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Anonymous - Referee Report 3
November 10, 2014 - 09:39
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Anonymous - Referee Report 4
November 10, 2014 - 09:40
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Béla Janky - Authors' reply to comments and referee reports
November 13, 2014 - 18:46
We are really grateful for all the four reviewers. We grouped our replies into one document. Best Agnes & Bela

Anonymous - the document
November 13, 2014 - 18:47
here is the document