Color Blind Is Not Color Neutral: Testing Differences and Affirmative Action

Jean-Pierre Benoit

The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, 1999, vol. 15, issue 2, 378-400

Abstract: Employers or universities determine the qualifications of applicants based on the results of a test. Members of socioeconomically disadvantaged groups tend to score less well than equally qualified members of other groups. As a result, color blind practices discriminate against disadvantaged groups. This discrimination may persist even if rational firms realize that the test is (statistically) biased. Furthermore, test bias against a group is consistent with the test overpredicting group members' performance. An affirmative action program may be needed to achieve color-neutral results. Copyright 1999 by Oxford University Press.

Date: 1999
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:jleorg:v:15:y:1999:i:2:p:378-400

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://academic.oup.com/journals

Access Statistics for this article

The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization is currently edited by Andrea Prat

More articles in The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization from Oxford University Press Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP, UK.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Oxford University Press ().