Market Failures and Government Role · Weeks 10-18

Measuring Income Inequality

Measuring the distribution of wealth using tools like the Lorenz Curve and Gini Coefficient.

About This Topic

This topic explores the controversial policy of Affirmative Action, the use of race-conscious policies to address historical discrimination and promote diversity. Students examine the legal history from Regents v. Bakke to the most recent Supreme Court rulings. They analyze the tension between the goal of 'substantive equality' (remedying past wrongs) and 'procedural equality' (colorblindness).

For seniors, this is a highly relevant topic as they apply to college. It requires them to engage with complex ethical questions about fairness, merit, and the role of institutions in shaping a diverse society. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of admissions and hiring through a simulated committee process where they must balance competing values.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Admissions Committee

Students act as a college admissions board. They are given 'profiles' of applicants with varying grades, backgrounds, and life experiences. They must decide who to admit while following (or challenging) specific diversity goals.

⏱ 60 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Formal Debate: Colorblind vs. Race-Conscious

Students debate the 'Justice Roberts' view ('The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race') versus the 'Justice Sotomayor' view (that race still matters in American life).

⏱ 45 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Gallery Walk: Affirmative Action Around the World

Display how other countries (like India or South Africa) handle 'reservations' or 'quotas' for marginalized groups. Students compare these systems to the US 'holistic review' model.

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Colleges use 'quotas' to meet diversity goals.

What to Teach Instead

Quotas were ruled unconstitutional in the 1978 Bakke case. Peer investigations into 'Holistic Review' help students understand that race can be a 'plus factor' but not a fixed number or a separate track.

Common Misconception

Affirmative action only benefits Black students.

What to Teach Instead

Historically, white women have been the largest beneficiaries of affirmative action policies in employment. Peer-led 'Demographic Data Analysis' helps students see the broad impact of these policies across different groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'Strict Scrutiny' in the context of race?

It is the highest level of judicial review. For a race-based policy to be constitutional, the government must prove it has a 'compelling interest' and that the policy is 'narrowly tailored' to achieve that interest using the least restrictive means possible.

What did the Supreme Court rule in the 2023 Harvard/UNC cases?

The Court effectively ended race-conscious admissions, ruling that while diversity is a commendable goal, the specific programs at these schools violated the Equal Protection Clause by lacking a clear 'end point' and relying on racial stereotypes.

How can active learning help students understand Affirmative Action?

This is one of the most polarizing topics in the classroom. Active learning, like a 'Values Clarification' exercise where students place themselves on a spectrum of 'Fairness,' helps them see that people can disagree for principled reasons. By simulating an admissions board, they experience the difficulty of creating a diverse community without relying on 'check-boxes.'

What are 'Race-Neutral' alternatives?

These are policies designed to increase diversity without explicitly using race, such as 'Top 10% plans' (admitting the top students from every high school) or prioritizing students from low-income zip codes or first-generation college backgrounds.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU