Bias and Decisions in Economics

In this course, we will read and discuss economic research on bias and the criminal justice system. There are two central questions in the course. First: how to define and uncover unwarranted bias in a strategically complex setting with information constraints. Second: how to apply these methods to the particular setting and data of criminal justice. In addressing these questions, we will weigh the value of different definitions of bias and different econometric approaches to the criminal justice system. Topics include: outcome tests, judge instruments, binary classification analysis, and modeling the incentives of citizens, police, prosecutors, judges, and parole/probation officers. Prerequisite: Econ 503, Econ 504, Econ 512, Econ 5161.
Course Attributes:

Bias and Decisions in Economics

ECONOMICS 540

Section 01