On your own side of the fence

This article investigates whether identifying redistribution recipients of the same or another ethnicity through short interactions affects redistribution. In a laboratory experiment, highly-paid participants (“the rich”) are exogenously assigned to interact with poorly-paid participants (“the poor”) of different ethnicities or with other highly-paid participants. Participants then propose redistribution schemes affecting a larger group. I report that identifying the poor increases redistribution—regardless of ethnic differences. Moreover, I examine the avoidance of interactions with the poor and with those of another ethnicity and the effect of identification on participants who avoid such interactions.