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A cross-national analysis of affirmative action: an evolutionary psychological perspective

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  • Chulguen Yang

    (Central Michigan University, Michigan, USA)

  • Geeta C. D'Souza

    (Central Michigan University, Michigan, USA)

  • Ashwini S. Bapat

    (Central Michigan University, Michigan, USA)

  • Stephen M. Colarelli

    (Central Michigan University, Michigan, USA)

Abstract

Affirmative action (AA) is a government policy permitting employers and universities to give preferential treatment to applicants from specific (e.g. racial) groups. We present a comparative analysis of AA in six countries (India, USA, Malaysia, Canada, South Africa, and Brazil) and explain similarities among these programs according to universal psychological mechanisms and variation according to cultural-historical contexts. It appears that similarities in contextual conditions (e.g. democratic government, multi-ethnic states) interact with ancient psychological mechanisms (e.g. fairness, cheater detection, alliance tracking) to provide at least part of the motivation for the development and expansion of AA, despite its problematic consequences. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Chulguen Yang & Geeta C. D'Souza & Ashwini S. Bapat & Stephen M. Colarelli, 2006. "A cross-national analysis of affirmative action: an evolutionary psychological perspective," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(2-3), pages 203-216.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:27:y:2006:i:2-3:p:203-216
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.1293
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    References listed on IDEAS

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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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Satu Kuitunen, 2022. "Affirmative action: meaning, intentions, and impacts in the big picture," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-32, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Gupta, Asha, 2006. "Affirmative Action in Higher Education in India and the US: A Study in Contrasts," University of California at Berkeley, Center for Studies in Higher Education qt5nz5695t, Center for Studies in Higher Education, UC Berkeley.
    3. Subhasish M. Chowdhury & Patricia Esteve‐González & Anwesha Mukherjee, 2023. "Heterogeneity, leveling the playing field, and affirmative action in contests," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(3), pages 924-974, January.

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