The Relative Rates of Ethnic, Age and Gender Discrimination and Their Intersectionality: A Factorial Field Experiment in the Brussels Capital Region

Abstract This study investigates ethnic, age, and gender discrimination, and their intersectionality in Brussels’ ethnically highly diverse metropolitan labour market. Using a factorial correspondence experiment, we assess the causal impact of ethnicity (Polish or Moroccan vs. Belgian-sounding names), age (6- or 12-year gap with applicants aged 38 or 44), and gender (male vs. female) on job interview invitations and any positive response. All applicants were born in Belgium, allowing us to isolate discrimination based on perceived ethnic origin rather than migration status. Findings indicate that applicants with a Moroccan (non-European) ethnic background, a 12-year age gap, and male gender face discrimination compared to those of Belgian ethnicity, younger age, and female gender respectively. Interestingly, the magnitude of these discriminatory effects is comparable across all three dimensions. No discrimination was observed between Polish and Belgian applicants and applicants with a 6-year age gap. Last, we find no robust evidence of intersectional effects between the tested characteristics, likely attributable to limited statistical power.