Non-whites less likely to get on their bikes

Reports by Phil Baty from the Royal Economic Society's annual conference at Staffordshire University this week. See research papers.

Britain's ethnic minorities are unwilling to commute to work and as a result suffer higher and longer spells of unemployment, according to Jonathan Thomas of University College London. His analysis of social security data suggests that further statutory anti-discrimination measures may be necessary. He said that ethnic minorities tended to look for jobs in their locality, mostly inner-city areas, because they believe suburban employers are likely to discriminate, and that commuting to areas where non-white residence is sparse would increase the risks of harassment or violence.