Discrimination toward the visually impaired and quota policies in the labor market

Abstract

We measure discrimination in access to employment toward people with visual impairment in France and explore its relationship with two public policies designed to facilitate the integration of disabled people into the workforce: the obligation on the employer to adapt the workstation, and a quota policy intended to incentivize the hiring of people with disabilities. We use the correspondence test method in combination with a difference-in-differences strategy, to explore the effects of these different policies. We show that applicants with visual impairments face significant discrimination, and we suggest that the level of discrimination is influenced by both policies.