References

Abstract

We look into the potential existence of a "state nobility"in top civil service in Spain. With that aim we exploit the surname information of 21,000 members and 85,000 candidates for positions in the eleven main Corps of the Spanish Administration. We use a two-component linear mixture model to estimate the probability that a candidate is a relative of a Corps member. We show that (1) relatives are on average about 44 times more likely to apply for these positions than nonrelatives, constituting 20% of all candidates; (2) relatives are more likely to apply for exams including a practical test, as well as those containing more extensive study material; and (3) relatives perfom relatively better in oral tests than in anonymous multiple choice tests, but this di¤erence is only marginally signi…cant.