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Creating Unbiased Machine Learning Models by Design

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph L. Breeden

    (Deep Future Analytics LLC, 1600 Lena St., Suite E3, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA)

  • Eugenia Leonova

    (Deep Future Analytics LLC, 1600 Lena St., Suite E3, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA)

Abstract

Unintended bias against protected groups has become a key obstacle to the widespread adoption of machine learning methods. This work presents a modeling procedure that carefully builds models around protected class information in order to make sure that the final machine learning model is independent of protected class status, even in a nonlinear sense. This procedure works for any machine learning method. The procedure was tested on subprime credit card data combined with demographic data by zip code from the US Census. The census data serves as an imperfect proxy for borrower demographics but serves to illustrate the procedure.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph L. Breeden & Eugenia Leonova, 2021. "Creating Unbiased Machine Learning Models by Design," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:14:y:2021:i:11:p:565-:d:685056
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Friedman, Jerome H., 2002. "Stochastic gradient boosting," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 367-378, February.
    2. Breeden, Joseph L., 2016. "Incorporating lifecycle and environment in loan-level forecasts and stress tests," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 255(2), pages 649-658.
    3. Nikita Kozodoi & Johannes Jacob & Stefan Lessmann, 2021. "Fairness in Credit Scoring: Assessment, Implementation and Profit Implications," Papers 2103.01907, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2022.
    4. Nikola Gradojevic & Ramazan Gencay & Dragan Kukolj, 2009. "Option Pricing with Modular Neural Networks," Working Paper series 32_09, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.
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    Cited by:

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