scholarly journals Promoting Educational Opportunities: Long-Run Implications of Affirmative Action in College Admissions

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Herskovic ◽  
Joao Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Affirmative Action ◽  
College Admissions ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Long Run

The Informational Value of Affirmative Action in College Admissions

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric K Furstenberg
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Affirmative Action ◽  
College Admissions ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Admissions Policies ◽  
Racial Preferences ◽  
Admissions Officers ◽  
The University ◽  
Admissions Process ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract This article develops a theoretical model of college admissions to investigate the effects of banning affirmative action admissions policies on the efficiency of the admissions process. Previous work in this area has shown that prohibiting affirmative action causes inefficiency when college quality is an increasing function of diversity. This article identifies an additional reason why colleges and universities use racial preferences in admissions, setting aside explicit demands for diversity. In the theoretical model, the racial identity of the applicants is relevant information for making inferences about an applicant's true academic ability. Preventing admissions officers from using this information results in inefficient selection of applicants, even if diversity does not explicitly enter the objective of the university. Thus, affirmative action is justified solely on informational grounds.

scholarly journals Measuring the Differential Economic Impact of Education across Income Groups and Provinces in Pakistan: A Model- Consistent Approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (Special Edition) ◽  
pp. 161-182
Author(s):  
Fahd Rehman ◽  
Russel J. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Household Income ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Social Effects ◽  
Household Expenditure ◽  
Differential Impact ◽  
Engel Curve ◽  
Income Groups ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Expenditure Data ◽  
The Impact

Engel’s Law states that the share of food in household expenditure declines with households’ total expenditure—a regularity that is clearly evident in Pakistani household income and expenditure data. This study uses an “Engel curve” to incorporate additional social effects—including the impact of education on welfare—to infer the differential impact of education on measures of household wellbeing across income groups and provinces. Our Engel curve specifications close the gap between economic theory and empirical applications critical to evaluating the effects of education on economic wellbeing. The results show that net primary and matriculation education enrolment ratios can bring about a significant improvement in people’s welfare. Accordingly, there is a need to specifically redirect resources to Balochistan where access to educational opportunities is rather low; and to increase access to such opportunities in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Data for the period 2008–11 shows that households in the two lowest income groups are worst off in terms of access to educational opportunities. Efforts should thus be stepped up to enhance their access to educational opportunities at the primary and matriculation levels. The study’s predictions are intended to guide policymakers in terms of where to concentrate their efforts and reduce economic distortions, and move the economy onto a sustainable path in the long run.

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