One variable is called Scrabble. Price explains that "the scrabble [sic] score of an inmate's first name is based upon the numeric values assigned to letters in the board game Scrabble, produced and distributed by both Mattel Inc and Hasbro Inc" He cites earlier studies (by researchers named Figlio, Bertrand and Mullainathan) as to why the Scrabble value of a person's name is significant: "Figlio (2005) shows that individuals with low socioeconomic status have a tendency to have first names with a high Scrabble value ...
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