Testing for discrimination: Evidence from the game show Street Smarts

This paper conducts two alternative tests of discrimination in the game show Street Smarts, which both exploit the unique setup of the game to determine why discrimination occurs. The results indicate non-black contestants have a lower prior perception of the skill level of blacks relative to non-blacks in answering the average question in the game. When results are stratified by question category, one finds that non-black contestants perceive blacks and non-blacks to have equal ability in answering general knowledge questions. However, they perceive blacks to have a lower ability in answering miscellaneous, entertainment, and slang/common saying questions.

► Two alternative tests of discrimination are conducted in the game show Street Smarts. ► Non-black contestants have lower perceptions of the skill levels of blacks overall. ► Their perceptions for general knowledge questions are racially neutral. ► They have lower perceptions of blacks’ ability to answer miscellaneous questions.