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We investigate whether increased animosity toward Muslims after 9/11 had spillover effects on Black and Hispanic individuals in the federal criminal justice system. Using linked administrative data tracking defendants from arrest through sentencing, we find that after 9/11, sentence and presentence outcomes for Hispanic defendants significantly worsened. Outcomes for Black defendants were unchanged. The findings are consistent with judges and prosecutors displaying social preferences characterized by contagious animosity from Muslims to Hispanics. Our findings provide among the first field evidence of contagious animosity, indicating that social preferences across out-groups are interlinked and malleable.
Authors
CPP Director, IFS Research Director
Imran is Professor of Economics at University College London and Director of the Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy at the IFS.
Brendon McConnell
Journal article details
- DOI
- 10.1086/711180
- Publisher
- University of Chicagio Press
- JEL
- D91, J15
- Issue
- Volume 39, Issue 3, July 2021
Suggested citation
McConnell, B and Rasul, I. (2021). 'Contagious animosity in the field: evidence from the federal criminal justice system' 39(3/2021)
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