Hamermesh, Daniel S. <br/><br/>
Tall or Taller, Pretty or Prettier:  Is Discrimination Absolute or Relative? / 
Daniel S. Hamermesh. 
 - Cambridge, Mass.  National Bureau of Economic Research  2012. 
 - 1 online resource:  illustrations (black and white); 
 - NBER working paper series  no. w18123 .
 - Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research)  no. w18123. .
<br/><br/> June 2012. 
<br/><br/> Using several microeconomic data sets from the United States and the Netherlands, and the examples of height and beauty, this study examines whether: 1) Absolute or relative differences in a characteristic are what affect labor-market and other outcomes; and 2) The effects of a characteristic change when all agents acquire more of it--become taller or better-looking. Confronted with a choice among individuals, decision-makers respond more to absolute than to relative differences among them.  Also, an increase in the mean of a characteristic's distribution does not alter market responses to differences in it. 
<br/><br/>
<br/><br/><br/>System requirements: Adobe [Acrobat] Reader required for PDF files. <br/>Mode of access: World Wide Web.