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• Working Paper | HBS Working Paper Series | 2020

  (When) Does Appearance Matter? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

  Prithwiraj Choudhury, Tarun Khanna, Christos A. Makridis, Subhradip Sarker, Prithwiraj Choudhury, Tarun Khanna, Christos A. Makridis and Subhradip Sarker

  While there is evidence about labor market discrimination based on race, religion, and gender, we know little about whether physical appearance leads to discrimination in labor market outcomes. We deploy a randomized experiment on 1,000 respondents in India between April and May 2020 to investigate how “looks” affect labor market outcomes. Using machine learning and computer face rendering techniques, we simulate North, South, and Northeastern Indian faces and randomize two waves of treatments where we attach faces with otherwise identical CVs. However, the second wave also contains a vignette where we provide respondents with information about the incidence of discrimination. We focus on Northeastern Indian faces that resemble those in China to focus on the potential for discrimination that has historically been present in anecdotal accounts. While we do not find evidence of discrimination against Northeastern faces in the first wave, we do so in the second among those who do not see the vignette. We provide suggestive evidence that these results are consistent with the presence of homophily under limited attention.

  Keywords: Behavioral economics; coronavirus; discrimination; homophily; labor market mobility; limited attention; resumes; Personal Characteristics; Prejudice and Bias;

  Citation:

  Choudhury, Prithwiraj, Tarun Khanna, Christos A. Makridis, and Subhradip Sarker. "(When) Does Appearance Matter? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 21-038, September 2020.  View Details

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• Working Paper | HBS Working Paper Series | 2020

  (When) Does Appearance Matter? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

  Prithwiraj Choudhury, Tarun Khanna, Christos A. Makridis, Subhradip Sarker, Prithwiraj Choudhury, Tarun Khanna, Christos A. Makridis and Subhradip Sarker

  While there is evidence about labor market discrimination based on race, religion, and gender, we know little about whether physical appearance leads to discrimination in labor market outcomes. We deploy a randomized experiment on 1,000 respondents in India between April and May 2020 to investigate how “looks” affect labor market outcomes. Using machine learning and computer face rendering techniques, we simulate North, South, and Northeastern Indian faces and randomize two waves of treatments where we attach faces with otherwise identical CVs. However, the second wave also contains a vignette where we provide respondents with information about the incidence of discrimination. We focus on Northeastern Indian faces that resemble those in China to focus on the potential for discrimination that has historically been present in anecdotal accounts. While we do not find evidence of discrimination against Northeastern faces in the first wave, we do so in the second among those who do not see the vignette. We provide suggestive evidence that these results are consistent with the presence of homophily under limited attention.

  Keywords: Behavioral economics; coronavirus; discrimination; homophily; labor market mobility; limited attention; resumes; Personal Characteristics; Prejudice and Bias;

  Citation:

  Choudhury, Prithwiraj, Tarun Khanna, Christos A. Makridis, and Subhradip Sarker. "(When) Does Appearance Matter? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 21-038, September 2020.  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | September 2020

  PDS: Ring-Fencing the Ranch

  Dennis Campbell, Tarun Khanna and Kerry Herman

  Pallak Seth, Group CEO of PDS Multinational Fashions, is contemplating options to bring better collaboration across his global apparel supply chain platform. PDS, a group of 50-plus subsidiary companies, each led by its own CEO and with different apparel industry specialties, has grown rapidly over the past decade, yet the industry is increasingly competitive and challenges remain constant. Looking for ways to reach the Group’s 2023 goals of $2 billion in revenue, Seth and his executive board are considering two ways to increase collaboration and reward performance: a joint P&L approach to drive partnerships across the subsidiaries and an employee stock option plan, to unlock value across the Group.

  Citation:

  Campbell, Dennis, Tarun Khanna, and Kerry Herman. "PDS: Ring-Fencing the Ranch." Harvard Business School Case 721-361, September 2020.  View Details

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