Abstract

This paper studies how take-up rates for a beneficial opportunity change when individuals from different groups are informed they are offered a slot because of their group identity. I conduct a field experiment by inviting 2560 high-performing university students to participate in a program developing personal and professional skills to better attain their goals. Selection is based on two criteria: merit (high GPA) and belonging to at least one potentially marginalized group. All targeted individuals know they are selected because of their merit, but only a random sample knows they are also chosen because of their identity. Results show that the relation of merit and identity impact social groups differently depending on gender and social class: females respond negatively and decrease take-up, middle class students are unaffected, and low-income students respond positively by increasing take-up. The beliefs people hold about the ability members of a social group have to attain their goals is a potential mechanism explaining this behavior, so that positive stereotypes associated with a group’s ability can trigger negative responses to beneficial opportunities. The results have implications for policies targeting the promotion of diversity and inclusion.