Speaker: Patrick Devahastin (Hiroshima University)

Title: Examining Hiring Discrimination through Direct Signalling: A Correspondence Study in the Thai Labour Market

Abstract:
This study revisits Bertrand and Mullainathan (2004) and explores how correspondence
studies have become a common method for examining hiring discrimination, especially in
countries with visible minority populations. Although Thailand is relatively homogenous with
fewer visible minorities, religious discrimination remains a concern due to the visibility of
religious affiliation on national ID cards, which employers are required to photocopy. To assess
the impact of religious identity on hiring in Thailand, the study incorporated direct signals of
religious affiliation in resume-based trials. Given that Muslims are the largest religious
minority in Thailand, the resumes explicitly indicated “being Muslim” in the personal
information section to evaluate potential hiring discrimination. Additionally, the study
explored whether cultural assimilation—such as changing surnames and participating in Thai
cultural clubs (TCC)—could reduce discrimination. The experiment involved sending 3,129
resumes to 1,043 employers in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, with each employer
receiving three resumes representing different treatment groups: Buddhist with a Thai full
name, Muslim with a Thai full name, and Muslim with a Thai first name and an Arabic
surname. After addressing critiques by Heckman and Siegelman (1993), the results revealed
that Muslim applicants were less likely to receive interview invitations than their Buddhist
counterparts. Moreover, cultural assimilation, such as participation in TCC, had only a minor
impact on the likelihood of receiving an invitation. Surprisingly, Muslim applicants with
Arabic surnames were more likely to receive callbacks than those with Thai surnames.

Bio:
Patrick Devahastin is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Graduate School of
Humanities and Social Science, Hiroshima University. His research focuses on Labour
Economics, Family Economics, Gender Economics, and Discrimination.

Currently, Patrick is leading a project titled “Examining Hiring Discrimination through Direct
Signalling: A Correspondence Study in the Thai Labour Market,” in collaboration with
Chatpot Lairungruang from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health. This study investigates the
extent of hiring discrimination against Muslim minorities in Thailand. In addition, he is
working on “Traditional Gender Roles Persist: The Impact of Remote Work on Household
Dynamics Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan” with Assistant Professor Chayanee
Chawanote from Thammasat University. This research examines how the rise of telework
during the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the distribution of housework among married
couples in Japan.

Patrick earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Hiroshima University in 2023, where he studied
under the guidance of Distinguished Professor Yoshihiko Kadoya, the director of the
Hiroshima Institute of Health Economics. Before pursuing his doctoral degree, he gained
valuable experience as a research assistant at Thammasat University, where he contributed to
projects at Thailand’s Office of Trade Competition Commission and the Equitable Education
Fund.