Blind Spots: The Effects of Information and Stakes on Fairness Bias and Dispersion |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">James?KonowEmail author |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Economics, Loyola Marymount University, One LMU Drive, Suite 4200, Los Angeles, California, 90045-2659 |
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Abstract: | Mounting empirical research provides evidence of fairness bias and its economic and social effects, where fairness bias refers
here to a deviation of claims from unbiased justice due to a personal stake. A far less appreciated issue is dispersion of fairness views and claims, which is also important for its effects on disagreements, empirical analysis, and philosophical
theories. This study undertakes a systematic analysis of the effects on fairness bias and dispersion of two variables: stakes
and information. Most philosophical and social science analyses related to justice and bias associate heightened bias with
increased information and, conversely, impartiality with the elimination of certain information. Less attention has been paid
to the opposing impact of information, which is to supply the facts needed to achieve justice more reliably. An important
open question is whether, on balance, increased information helps agents to achieve fairer outcomes or whether biased use
of such information contributes to less fair outcomes. This study focuses on a set of previously reported experiments that
share certain features and subjects them to a new analysis. The results of this analysis suggest that, although information
is often used in a self-serving way, increased information can, under certain conditions, contribute to fairness claims becoming
less biased and less dispersed, both for stakeholders as well as impartial spectators. |
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Keywords: | fairness justice equity bias dispersion impartial spectator |
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