Aknauta
01-20-2003, 03:18 PM
review by Rafe Champion
Preferential Policies: An International Perspective
Thomas Sowell . William Morrow . New York
Late last year (1990) the Indian Government precipitated riots and episodes of self-immolation with a promise to provide more university places and public service jobs for the lower caste 'untouchables'. Readers of Preferential Policies will not find these events surprising because they have happened before in India and other countries following the introduction of preference policies. *Perhaps the most tragic example is the civil war in *Sri Lanka.
This book is a historical and comparative study of the strong form of affirmative action whereby the members of supposedly deprived or under-privileged groups become the beneficiaries of government-mandated preferences. These set aside the principles of merit and freedom of choice so that different *individuals are no longer judged by the same criteria or subjected to the same procedures. Typical examples are quotas set for admissions to higher education, or for employment (especially in the public service) so that less qualified or able members of the favoured group occupy places that would have gone to other people.
Sowell describes the various patterns of behaviour and outcomes generated by preferential policies of different kinds. These include preferences for the economically dominant group (South Africa and the old US deep south), majority preferences in economies dominated by minorities (Malaysia, Sri Lanka,) and minority preferences in economies dominated by the majority (contemporary USA and India). The second part of the book explores the errors and muddled thinking which keep preferential policies in place even when they fail to produce the desired effects. Indeed, the very failure of policies which were supposed to be limited and temporary often leads to stronger preference initiatives.
illusions of control, knowledge, morality and compensation (http://www.the-rathouse.com/revaffirm.html)
Preferential Policies: An International Perspective
Thomas Sowell . William Morrow . New York
Late last year (1990) the Indian Government precipitated riots and episodes of self-immolation with a promise to provide more university places and public service jobs for the lower caste 'untouchables'. Readers of Preferential Policies will not find these events surprising because they have happened before in India and other countries following the introduction of preference policies. *Perhaps the most tragic example is the civil war in *Sri Lanka.
This book is a historical and comparative study of the strong form of affirmative action whereby the members of supposedly deprived or under-privileged groups become the beneficiaries of government-mandated preferences. These set aside the principles of merit and freedom of choice so that different *individuals are no longer judged by the same criteria or subjected to the same procedures. Typical examples are quotas set for admissions to higher education, or for employment (especially in the public service) so that less qualified or able members of the favoured group occupy places that would have gone to other people.
Sowell describes the various patterns of behaviour and outcomes generated by preferential policies of different kinds. These include preferences for the economically dominant group (South Africa and the old US deep south), majority preferences in economies dominated by minorities (Malaysia, Sri Lanka,) and minority preferences in economies dominated by the majority (contemporary USA and India). The second part of the book explores the errors and muddled thinking which keep preferential policies in place even when they fail to produce the desired effects. Indeed, the very failure of policies which were supposed to be limited and temporary often leads to stronger preference initiatives.
illusions of control, knowledge, morality and compensation (http://www.the-rathouse.com/revaffirm.html)