The Ethnic Hierarchy: Discrimination Based on Country Origin, Religion and Phenotype in the Norwegian Labour Market

Abstract

This article analyzes the results of a field experiment in which 2779 fictitious job applications from equally qualified people with backgrounds from a total of 37 countries were sent out to an equal number of advertised vacancies in the Norwegian labour market. The analysis documents the existence of an ethnic hierarchy in a Norwegian context. Applicants with names from Africa, the Middle East and South Asia are particularly discriminated against in the hiring process. Applicants from European countries, as well as from the United States and Russia, also face discrimination, but to a far lesser extent. Our analysis also shows that religious affiliation contributes to shaping labour market opportunities. For majority Norwegians, affiliation with Christianity has a significant negative effect on the likelihood of receiving a callback for a job interview. Such a signal has no significance for applicants from Europe, the United States and Russia, and a positive effect for applicants from non-European countries. Affiliation to Islam, however, has a strong negative effect for the latter group, especially for men. The results are discussed in the light of theories and previous research on ethnic hierarchies.