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The Costs of Affirmative Action: Evidence from a Medical School Lottery

Author

Listed:
  • Bas Scheer

    (CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis)

  • Brinn Hekkelman

    (CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis)

  • Mark Kattenberg

    (CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis)

Abstract

It is possible to promote diversity among student populations without the use of lottery selection. This is shown by research from the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) on fair algorithms that was published on the 29th of May. Lotteries are often proposed as a means to promote equality of opportunity, for example in the case of admission to medical school. However, that is not the only way in which inequality of opportunity can be combated, and certainly not the most effective. An alternative method is to reserve places for specific groups, such as men or people with a migration background, and then select the most suitable candidates from each group. This approach ensures that effective selection can take place, while at the same time promoting diversity. For more information, see the Discussion Paper (English), or the ESB article (Dutch) based on the research.

Suggested Citation

  • Bas Scheer & Brinn Hekkelman & Mark Kattenberg, 2024. "The Costs of Affirmative Action: Evidence from a Medical School Lottery," CPB Discussion Paper 455, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpb:discus:455
    DOI: 10.34932/w0fv-7977
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nadine Ketel & Edwin Leuven & Hessel Oosterbeek & Bas van der Klaauw, 2016. "The Returns to Medical School: Evidence from Admission Lotteries," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 8(2), pages 225-254, April.
    2. Peter Arcidiacono & Michael Lovenheim, 2016. "Affirmative Action and the Quality-Fit Trade-Off," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 54(1), pages 3-51, March.
    3. Ashesh Rambachan & Jon Kleinberg & Sendhil Mullainathan & Jens Ludwig, 2020. "An Economic Approach to Regulating Algorithms," NBER Working Papers 27111, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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