Do employers reward physical attractiveness in transition countries
JournalEconomics and Human Biology
AuthorsAstghik Mavisakalyan
PublishedFebruary 2018
PublisherElsevier
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2017.10.002
ISSN1570-677X
Number of Pages38-52
Volume28
This paper studies the labour market returns to physical attractiveness using data from three transition countries of the Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. I estimate a large positive effect of attractive looks on males probability of employment. Results from the most comprehensive model suggest a marginal effect of 11.1 percentage points. Using a partial identification approach, I show that this relationship is likely to be causal. After accounting for covariates, particularly measures of human capital, there is no evidence for a statistically significant link between females’ attractiveness and employment.
The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre team acknowledges the Wadjuk Nyungar people as the traditional owners of the land on which the Centre is situated.