De la discrimination statistique à la discrimination positive. Remarques sur l'inférence probabiliste

Maxime Parodi

Revue de l'OFCE, 2010, vol. n° 112, issue 1, 63-85

Abstract: Statistical discrimination is the rejection of an individual because of some defects ? observed or believed ? on the aggregate characteristics of his group. Unlike negative discrimination, the rejection does not rely on prejudice or racial or gender bias, but on a probabilistic inference about some decisive characteristic. It is a rational motive, but this rational does not say the entire story: to reject supposes not only to evaluate probabilities, but also to choose some risks and this cannot be done without practical considerations. The rationality of discrimination lies then on a context-dependant reasoning which could not be underestimated. It appears then that the lack of individual information could also justify a reasonable bet like positive discrimination or affirmative action. JEL classification code: J7.

Keywords: statistical discrimination; affirmative action; rationality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J7 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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