The Effects of Race,Education, and Income on Tipping Behavior

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to find out if African Americans do tip less frequently than Whites and if income and education influence the relationship. Respondents were asked about the frequency of tipping and the reasons for tipping. The results suggest that race was a significant factor in the frequency of tipping servers, bartenders, luggage handlers, taxi drivers, and parking attendants. However, income and education tend to nullify these results. Overall the results suggest that while race may be a factor in some service transactions, much of the race effect be nullified by education and income.