28 June, 2013

The Price Is Racist: When Minorities (and Women) Are Asked to Pay More - Derek Thompson - The Atlantic

The Price Is Racist: When Minorities (and Women) Are Asked to Pay More - Derek Thompson - The Atlantic: Ayres and Siegelman's conclusion is nothing short of depressing. It suggests that, armed with identical information and bargaining tactics, women and minorities might face a permanent disadvantage due to bias in markets like the one for cars. But the first study is more hopeful. It suggests that the way to fight sexism in these markets is to lead a negotiation with the fact that you've done your homework, you know the market, and you're not going to be duped.

The best weapon against sexist and racist pricing tactics is to arrive at the negotiating table with a price of your own.