Working Paper: NBER ID: w20629
Authors: Prasad Krishnamurthy; Aaron Edlin
Abstract: We analyze how admission policies affect stereotypes against students from disadvantaged groups. Many critics of affirmative action argue that lower admission standards cause such stereotypes and suggest group-blind admissions as a remedy. We show that when stereotypes result from social inequality, they can persist under group-blind admissions. In such cases, eliminating stereotypes perversely requires a higher admission standard for disadvantaged students. If a school seeks both to treat students equally and limit stereotypes, the optimal admission policy would still impose a higher standard on disadvantaged students. A third goal, such as equal representation, is required to justify group-blind admissions. Even when there is such a third goal, group-blind admissions are optimal only when the conflicting goals of equal representation and limiting stereotypes exactly balance. This is an implausible justification for group-blind admission because it implies that some schools desire higher standards for disadvantaged students. Schools that do not desire such higher standards will typically find some amount of affirmative action to be optimal.
Keywords: Affirmative Action; Stereotypes; Higher Education Admissions
JEL Codes: D0; D3; D63; I23; I24; K00
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Admission policies (I28) | Stereotypes against disadvantaged groups (J15) |
| Higher admission standards (I23) | Elimination of stereotypes (J79) |
| Stereotypes from social inequality (I24) | Persistence under group-blind admissions (C92) |
| Admission standards (I23) | Stereotype elimination (J79) |