We develop empirical tools for studying discrimination in multiphase 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 “underplacement” in high-risk situations.

中文翻译：

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多阶段系统中的歧视：来自儿童保护的证据


我们开发了研究多阶段系统中歧视的实证工具，并将其应用于儿童保护服务机构的寄养安置环境。利用两组决策者（最初的热线电话筛查员和随后的调查员）的准随机分配，我们研究了不必要的种族差异是如何通过该系统产生和传播的。使用超过 200,000 起虐待指控的样本，我们发现，与涉及白人儿童的电话相比，涉及黑人儿童的电话导致寄养安置的可能性要高 55%，而白人儿童将来在家中遭受虐待的可能性相同。电话筛查员占这种无端差异的 19%，其余部分是由于调查人员造成的。无端的差异集中在未来可能受到虐待的病例中，这表明白人儿童在高危情况下可能会因“安置不足”而受到伤害。