Statistical Parity

Statistical parity is a fairness concept in decision-making processes, such as hiring or lending, which aims to ensure that different groups (e.g., based on gender or race) receive equal positive outcomes or opportunities. It means the proportion of individuals from each group who are selected or approved should be similar, regardless of their group membership. For example, if 30% of applicants from Group A are approved, then approximately 30% of applicants from Group B should also be approved. This helps prevent bias by promoting equal treatment across groups, but it doesn’t account for differences in qualification or other underlying factors.