Algorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical review

<p>Most definitions of algorithmic bias and fairness encode decisionmaker interests, such as profits, rather than the interests of disadvantaged groups (e.g., racial minorities). Bias is equated to a deviation from profit maximization. Future research should instead focus on the causal effect...

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Main Author: Kasy, M
Format: Working paper
Language:English
Published: University of Oxford 2023
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author Kasy, M
author_facet Kasy, M
author_sort Kasy, M
collection OXFORD
description <p>Most definitions of algorithmic bias and fairness encode decisionmaker interests, such as profits, rather than the interests of disadvantaged groups (e.g., racial minorities). Bias is equated to a deviation from profit maximization. Future research should instead focus on the causal effect of automated decisions on the distribution of welfare, across and within groups.</p> <p>The literature emphasizes the apparent contradictions between different notions of fairness and profit motives. These contradictions vanish when profits are approximately maximized. Existing work involves conceptual slippages between statistical notions of bias and misclassification errors, economic notions of profit, and normative notions of bias and fairness.</p> <p>Notions of bias nonetheless carry some interest within the welfare paradigm, if we understand bias and discrimination as mechanisms and potential points of intervention.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:2c8b2a75-9af8-44f0-97de-7dbb8455b0ed2023-08-14T14:50:59ZAlgorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical reviewWorking paperhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_8042uuid:2c8b2a75-9af8-44f0-97de-7dbb8455b0edEnglishSymplectic ElementsUniversity of Oxford2023Kasy, M<p>Most definitions of algorithmic bias and fairness encode decisionmaker interests, such as profits, rather than the interests of disadvantaged groups (e.g., racial minorities). Bias is equated to a deviation from profit maximization. Future research should instead focus on the causal effect of automated decisions on the distribution of welfare, across and within groups.</p> <p>The literature emphasizes the apparent contradictions between different notions of fairness and profit motives. These contradictions vanish when profits are approximately maximized. Existing work involves conceptual slippages between statistical notions of bias and misclassification errors, economic notions of profit, and normative notions of bias and fairness.</p> <p>Notions of bias nonetheless carry some interest within the welfare paradigm, if we understand bias and discrimination as mechanisms and potential points of intervention.</p>
spellingShingle Kasy, M
Algorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical review
title Algorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical review
title_full Algorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical review
title_fullStr Algorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical review
title_full_unstemmed Algorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical review
title_short Algorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical review
title_sort algorithmic bias and racial inequality a critical review
work_keys_str_mv AT kasym algorithmicbiasandracialinequalityacriticalreview