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Discrimination and Equality of Opportunity

Author

Listed:
  • J. Ignacio García-Pérez

    (Universidad Pablo de Olavide, FEDEA & FCEA)

  • Antonio Villar

    (Universidad Pablo de Olavide & Ivie)

Abstract

This paper presents a measure of social discrimination based on the principle of equality of opportunity. According to this principle we only have to care about the inequality derived from people’s differential circumstances (and not about outcome differences due to people’s diverse degree of effort). We propose approaching the measurement of group discrimination as the “welfare loss” attributed to the inequality between social groups of similar characteristics. We also provide an empirical application to the analysis of gender discrimination in the European labour market. We estimate wage equations to breakdown wage gaps and to control for extra individual heterogeneity. Given these predictions, we compute the index of welfare loss due to gender discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Ignacio García-Pérez & Antonio Villar, 2009. "Discrimination and Equality of Opportunity," Working Papers 09.05, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pab:wpaper:09.05
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrés Cendales, 2012. "Vote Buying, Political Patronage and Selective Plunder," Latin American Journal of Economics-formerly Cuadernos de Economía, Instituto de Economía. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile., vol. 49(2), pages 237-276, November.
    2. Andrés Cendales & Jhon James Mora, 2014. "Sobornos o Representación Democrática: ¿Qué promueven los concejos municipales en una democracia precaria en el nivel local?," Documentos de Trabajo 12412, Universidad Católica de Colombia.
    3. Andrés Cendales & Jhon James Mora, 2015. "Precarious democracies, political negotiation and selective predation," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 30(2), pages 305-339.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Equality of opportunity; welfare losses; gender discrimination; wage equations.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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