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An efficiency argument for affirmative action in higher education

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Author Info

  • Elena del Rey

    () (Universitat de Girona)

  • María Racionero

    () (Australian National University)

Abstract

We consider a dynamic framework in which generations are linked by educational background. In particular, individuals differ in ability to benefit from education, parental education and appurtenance to a group (either a disadvantaged minority or a non-minority). The individual decision to undertake education is inefficient because people fail to account for the fact that their getting education increases the chances that their children will also gain access to education. This intergenerational externality is higher for people from the disadvantaged minority, provided that the difference in expected utility for children of uneducated and educated individuals is larger within this group. This provides an argument for affirmative action in higher education, in the form of larger subsidies to individuals from the minority group, which is exclusively based on efficiency considerations.

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File URL: http://www.ief.es/documentos/recursos/publicaciones/revistas/hac_pub/187_efficiency.pdf
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Bibliographic Info

Article provided by IEF in its journal Hacienda Pública Española/Revista de Economía Pública.

Volume (Year): 187 (2008)
Issue (Month): 4 (December)
Pages: 41-48

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Handle: RePEc:hpe:journl:y:2008:v:187:i:4:p:41-48

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Related research

Keywords: Affirmative action; intergenerational externality.;

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References

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  1. David Neumark & Harry Holzer, 2000. "Assessing Affirmative Action," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(3), pages 483-568, September.
  2. Roland G. Fryer Jr. & Glenn C. Loury, 2005. "Affirmative Action and Its Mythology," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 19(3), pages 147-162, Summer.
  3. Elena Del Rey & MarÌa del Mar Racionero, 2002. "Optimal educational choice and redistribution when parental education matters," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 54(3), pages 435-448, July.
  4. De Fraja, Gianni, 2002. "Affirmative Action and Efficiency in Education," CEPR Discussion Papers 3357, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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