题  目：Fair to Fare Well: How Algorithmic Fairness Benefits Firms on a Platform?（公平以至繁荣：算法公平性如何使平台上的企业受益？）

时  间：2025年5月27日 10:00-11:30

地  点：后主楼1722

主讲人：刘云川 终身教授（伊利诺伊大学香槟分校）

主持人：龚诗阳 教授（北京师范大学）

 

摘要：

In this paper, we examine the impacts of algorithmic fairness, particularly on firms that rely on platform algorithms for decision-making. We develop a game-theoretic model involving a platform and a firm, the platform can invest in learning to improve algorithm accuracy for better prediction of candidates' qualifications, and the firm can decide which candidates to accept by setting score thresholds, whereas the candidates belong to either a regular group or a protected group that is biased against by platform algorithms. In this model, we focus on two popular fairness notions, equal treatment and equal opportunity, to represent two types of algorithmic fairness: fairness through unawareness and fairness through awareness, respectively. Counterintuitively, we show that algorithmic fairness, although it seems to negatively impact firms' profitability due to the constraints it imposes, can actually benefit firms. Interestingly, we find that algorithmic fairness can hurt the protected group or benefit the regular group. Our study also shows that whether equal opportunity or equal treatment outperforms in maximizing firms' profits depends on the benefit-loss ratio.

 

演讲嘉宾简介：

刘云川教授是美国伊利诺伊大学香槟分校(UIUC)终身教授，毕业于美国哥伦比亚大学，是市场营销、运营管理、供应链、信息管理、消费金融等方面的专家，他有很多文章发表在 Marketing Science 和 Management Science上。刘教授每年都名列伊利诺伊大学的优秀教师名单，曾被伊利诺伊大学 MBA 学生评选为年度教授最终候选人。刘教授现任 Decision Sciences 和 Service Sciences 副主编、曾任 Marketing Science 编委，多次获得 Management Science 和 Marketing Science 杰出评审奖，是华人学者营销协会的联合创办人，中国市场营销国际学术年会执行主席。刘教授也是伊利诺伊大学香槟分校商学院中国项目主任，正在推动伊利诺伊大学香槟分校和中国若干大学的合作项目。