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Robust Inequality of Opportunity Comparisons: Theory and Application to Early Childhood Policy Evaluation

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  • Francesco Andreoli

    (Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research)

  • Tarjei Havnes
  • Arnaud Lefranc

Abstract

This paper develops a criterion to assess equalization of opportunity that is consistent with theoretical views of equality of opportunity. We characterize inequality of opportunity as a situation where some groups in society enjoy an illegitimate advantage. In this context, equalization of opportunity requires that the extent of the illegitimate advantage enjoyed by the privileged groups falls. Robustness requires that this judgement be supported by the broadest class of individual preferences. We formalize this criterion in a decision theoretic framework, and derive an empirical condition for equalization of opportunity based on observed opportunity distributions. The criterion is used to assess the effectiveness of child care at equalizing opportunity among children, using quantile treatment effects estimates of a major child care reform in Norway. Overall, we find strong evidence supporting equalization of opportunity.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Andreoli & Tarjei Havnes & Arnaud Lefranc, 2019. "Robust Inequality of Opportunity Comparisons: Theory and Application to Early Childhood Policy Evaluation," Post-Print hal-02528191, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02528191
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00747
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02528191v1
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    2. Chen, Xi, 2022. "Early Life Circumstances and the Health of Older Adults: A Research Note," IZA Discussion Papers 15511, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    4. Kristof Bosmans & Z. Emel Öztürk, 2021. "Measurement of inequality of opportunity: A normative approach," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 19(2), pages 213-237, June.
    5. Chen, Xi & Yan, Binjian & Gill, Thomas M., 2020. "Childhood Circumstances and Health Inequality in Old Age: Comparative Evidence from China and the United States," GLO Discussion Paper Series 594, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Paolo Brunori & Flaviana Palmisano & Vito Peragine, 2022. "Income taxation and equity: new dominance criteria with a microsimulation application," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 20(3), pages 509-536, September.
    7. Paul Hufe & Andreas Peichl & Daniel Weishaar, 2019. "Lower and Upper Bounds of Inequality of Opportunity in Emerging Economies," ifo Working Paper Series 301, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    8. Francesco Andreoli & Claudio Zoli, 2019. "Robust dissimilarity comparisons with categorical outcomes," Working Papers 502, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    9. Middleditch, Paul & Moindrot, Will & Rudkin, Simon, 2022. "Teaching with Twitter: An extension to the traditional learning environment," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    10. Xi Chen & Binjian Yan & Thomas M. Gill, 2022. "Childhood Circumstances and Health Inequality in Old Age: Comparative Evidence from China and the USA," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 689-716, April.

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