This website uses cookies.

By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.

  1. Home
  2. Journals
  3. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
  4. Forthcoming Articles
  5. Identity in Court Decision-Making

American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy

ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)

Identity in Court Decision-Making

  • Ulrika Ahrsjö
  • Susan Niknami
  • Mårten Palme
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy (Forthcoming)

Abstract

We explore the role of identity along multiple dimensions in highstakes decision-making. Our data contain information about demographic and socioeconomic indicators for defendants and randomly assigned jurors in a Swedish court. Our results show that defendants are four to six percent less likely to get a prison sentence if judged by one more juror belonging to the same identity-forming group. Moreover, they are given ten percent shorter prison sentences. Socioeconomic background and demographic attributes are equally important for identity effects, and these effects stem from trials of longer duration and where the defendant is present in the courtroom.

Downloads