Difference between revisions of "Discrimination"

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==Be aware of a third theory of discrimination.==
 
==Be aware of a third theory of discrimination.==
 
   
 
   
Most of us are fully aware of the economic theories of discrimination, animus-based and statistical discrimination. Be on the lookout for Institutional Discrimination which we want to add to our teaching and remove from our classrooms.
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Most of us are fully aware of two economic theories of discrimination, animus-based discrimination and statistical discrimination. Be on the lookout for institutional discrimination which we want to add to our teaching and remove from our classrooms.
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Institutional Discrimination
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Definition: Institutional Discrimination is the adverse treatment of, and impact on, members of minority groups because of the explicit and implicit rules that regulate society (including rules set and enforced by firms, schools, government, markets, and society).  Institutional discrimination occurs when the rules, practices, or “nonconscious understandings of appropriate conduct” (Haney Lopez) systematically advantage or disadvantage members of particular groups. 
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Ex. Last-hired, first-fired practices
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Ex. Firm recruits job applicant by using referrals from existing workers.
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Ex. An interviewer’s ease of communication with people who are of the same race/gender/class …
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Ex. Licensing rules for beauty parlor operators and pin curls
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Ex. Looking someone in the eye and trust-building for economic transactions
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a. Is the institutional discrimination efficient?  Is it fair?
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b. Is institutional discrimination part of a long-run equilibrium?
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c. What are the possible government policies, if any, that could improve the situation?

Revision as of 13:36, 18 July 2011

Be aware of a third theory of discrimination.

Most of us are fully aware of two economic theories of discrimination, animus-based discrimination and statistical discrimination. Be on the lookout for institutional discrimination which we want to add to our teaching and remove from our classrooms.


Institutional Discrimination

Definition: Institutional Discrimination is the adverse treatment of, and impact on, members of minority groups because of the explicit and implicit rules that regulate society (including rules set and enforced by firms, schools, government, markets, and society). Institutional discrimination occurs when the rules, practices, or “nonconscious understandings of appropriate conduct” (Haney Lopez) systematically advantage or disadvantage members of particular groups.

Ex. Last-hired, first-fired practices Ex. Firm recruits job applicant by using referrals from existing workers. Ex. An interviewer’s ease of communication with people who are of the same race/gender/class … Ex. Licensing rules for beauty parlor operators and pin curls Ex. Looking someone in the eye and trust-building for economic transactions

a. Is the institutional discrimination efficient? Is it fair? b. Is institutional discrimination part of a long-run equilibrium? c. What are the possible government policies, if any, that could improve the situation?