Unintentional Model Bias: Why Laziness and Census Data can be good proxies for racism

Unintentional Model Bias: Why Laziness and Census Data can be good proxies for racism

By Gary Angel

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December 22, 2019

The Measurement Minute with Gary Angel

The Measurement Minute with Gary Angel

 

The easiest way to create a biased model is often to just use the data you have. Census data, in particular, is a common culprit. It’s free, well organized and incredibly robust. But neighborhood turns out to be a nearly perfect proxy for race and age (not so much for gender). But the obligation to find screening variables is muddy and hard to clarify. How much effort is required? What’s acceptable and what isn’t? Damn if I know…

 

 

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