The Weak and Strong Versions of Place Stratification Theory: Causal Evidence from a Field Experiment in the Swiss Housing Market.

Julie Lacroix , Université de Neuchâtel

The objective of this paper is to assess whether and where discrimination intervenes in the locational attainment of racially minoritized individuals. In the context of discrimination within the rental housing market, place stratification theory emphasises how powerful groups such as landlords and real estate agencies, establish barriers—specifically through discriminatory practices—to maintain a physical separation from groups they perceive as undesirable. To capture ethnic discrimination, I use a nationwide field experiment in the Swiss housing market with randomized fictitious profiles (N = 7,533 queries for viewings from fictitious persons who vary by employment status and name to signal ethnic origin). OLS regression estimates the level of discrimination at the municipal level by examining the difference in invitation probabilities between prospective tenants with varying profiles. The results indicate that fictitious candidates with foreign-sounding names experience discrimination in Switzerland, particularly in municipalities located in the fourth quartile of the income distribution. Additionally, mentioning a high-status job positively influences the likelihood of receiving an invitation for a visit, with the exception of minority applicants seeking visits in municipalities at the top of the income distribution. The results of this study align with the strong version of place stratification theory: minorities face more obstacles to settle in places that are deemed more privileged, and gatekeepers clearly steer by origin while overlooking socioeconomic status.

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 Presented in Session 88. Migrant Populations and Ethnoracial Discrimination