Working Paper: NBER ID: w10103
Authors: Roland G. Fryer Jr.; Glenn C. Loury; Tolga Yuret
Abstract: This paper presents a conceptual framework for understanding the consequences of the widespread adoption of race-neutral alternatives' to conventional racial affirmative action policies in college admissions. A simple model of applicant competition with endogenous effort is utilized to show that, in comparison to color-conscious affirmative action, these color-blind alternatives can significantly lower the efficiency of the student selection process in equilibrium. We examine data on matriculates at several selective colleges and universities to estimate the magnitudes involved. It is shown that the short-run efficiency losses of implementing color-blind affirmative action (in our sample) are four to five times as high as color-conscious affirmative action.
Keywords: Affirmative Action; College Admissions; Race-Neutral Policies
JEL Codes: J0; I2; H0
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| colorblind affirmative action policies (J78) | lower efficiency of student selection process (D29) |
| color-conscious affirmative action policies (J78) | higher efficiency of student selection process (C52) |
| colorblind affirmative action policies (J78) | distortion of applicants' incentives (H31) |
| distortion of applicants' incentives (H31) | long-run decline in quality of applicants (D29) |
| colorblind affirmative action policies (J78) | emphasize non-academic traits (I29) |
| emphasize non-academic traits (I29) | lower average performance of admitted students (D29) |