ASOA22213U Discrimination: Conceptualization, Causes, Measurement and Counteraction

What is discrimination, how do we measure it, and can it be countered? Are women discriminated against as political candidates? Do minority members face exclusion in the housing market or public services? Even though formal rules and informal norms against discrimination are strong, evidence shows that it continues to affect individuals’ chances of success. Understanding why discrimination occurs—and why it persists despite legal prohibitions—is crucial for building critical awareness and informing policies.

This course offers students a rigorous introduction to the field of discrimination by using evidence from across the social sciences. The course is structurally divided into two parts: Week 1 focuses on the theoretical foundations, moving from standard definitions to advanced sociological critiques. Week 2 focuses on empirical research, examining causal inference and the effectiveness of anti-discrimination interventions.

We begin by establishing the dominant paradigms in the field. We will explore Taste-Based and Statistical Discrimination models used in economics to explain labor market outcomes, as well as recent refinements. We then shift to perspectives prominent in Critical Race and Feminist Theories that view discrimination not as a pathology but as a strategic tool for social closure. We will examine how groups use discrimination to monopolize advantages and maintain boundaries. This block covers Systemic, Indirect, and Cumulative Discrimination. Finally, we discuss counter-intuitive findings that challenge standard models, like the Integration Paradox. We conclude the theoretical week by debating the theory of Contested Discrimination, asking why the very definition of discrimination is a subject of societal struggle rather than a settled objective fact.

The second week focuses on research design, with a particular emphasis on the “gold standard” of discrimination research: field experiments and audit studies. We will examine how researchers isolate causal mechanisms in real-world settings, such as healthcare and public administration, and how organizational, political, and social contexts can mitigate or inflate discrimination. Finally, we will reflect (and debate!) on the policies and initiatives that aim to counteract discrimination, including affirmative action policies.

This seminar aims to be interactive and there will be debates, student presentations, among other interactive tasks. Active class participation is thus expected.