Quantification of fairness bias by a Fairness-Equity Model

Fairness and Bias

Fairness is a social rather than a psychometric concept. Its definition depends on what one considers to be fair. Fairness has no single meaning and, therefore, no single definition, whether statistical, psychometric, or social. The Standards notes four possible meanings of “fairness.” The first meaning views fairness as requiring equal group outcomes (e.g., equal passing rates for subgroups of...

Fairness and Equity in Societal Decision Analysis

Imagine you divide three cookies between your two children, five-year-old Jack and two-year-old Jill. You might give Jack two cookies and Jill one cookie. But, then Jill will claim that this division is unfair, and will remain unconvinced even when you say that Jack is older and bigger and thus needs (and deserves) more food. In such a parental role, you may decide to give equal cookie allocati...

Equity, fairness, and the development of a sustainability ethos

Estimates made just before the 21st century indicate that, by the year 2100, Earth may have between 10 and 11 billion people—not quite double the 6 billion population count reached in October 1999. Sustainable use of the planet requires that human needs be met without impairing the integrity of the planet’s ecological life support system. This objective will almost certainly require equity and ...

Fairness, Computable Fairness, and Randomness

A tractable model of reciprocity and fairness

We introduce a parametric model of other-regarding preferences. The income distribution, other status considerations, and the kindness or unkindness of others’ choices (“intentions”) systematically affect a person’s emotional state. The emotional state then determines the marginal rate of substitution between own and others’ payoffs, and thus the person’s subsequent choices. Model applications ...