description Devah Pager Overview
Devah Pager was an American sociologist whose research used field experiments to measure discrimination in employment. In audit studies, matched applicants were assigned different racial identities or criminal-record histories and sent to apply for real jobs, allowing employer responses to be compared. Her book Marked, published in 2007, showed that a criminal record reduced hiring opportunities and that Black applicants faced substantial penalties in the low-wage labor market.
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How did Devah Pager test hiring discrimination?
Pager used audit experiments in which carefully matched applicants sought real entry-level jobs. The applicants presented similar qualifications while differing in assigned race or whether they disclosed a criminal record.
What did The Mark of a Criminal Record find?
Pager found that a criminal record sharply reduced callbacks and job offers. Her Milwaukee study also showed that Black applicants without a record could fare no better than white applicants who reported one.
Did Devah Pager repeat her employment study outside Milwaukee?
Yes, she later worked with Bruce Western on a large field experiment in New York City. That research again found penalties associated with both race and a criminal record.
Which book presents Devah Pager's employment research?
Her book Marked: Race, Crime, and Finding Work in an Era of Mass Incarceration was published in 2007. It develops the findings and implications of her employment audit research.
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