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Identity in Court Decision-Making
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Identity in Court Decision-Making

Ulrika Ahrsjö, Susan Niknami and Mårten Palme
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Vol.16(4), pp.142-164
2024-11

Abstract

D91 J15 J16 K42 Z13
We explore the role of identity along multiple dimensions in high-stakes 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 4 to 6 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 10 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.

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