Affirmative Action in India via Vertical, Horizontal, and Overlapping Reservations
Econometrica · 2022 · Tayfun Sönmez、M. Bumin Yenmez
中文摘要
在宪法授权下，印度实施着世界上最全面的平权行动项目：历史上遭受歧视的群体受以「预留名额」（set asides）形式实施的纵向保留名额保护，其他弱势群体则受以「最低保障」形式实施的横向保留名额保护。最高法院于1995年裁定要求采用的一项机制存在重要异常，在印度引发了无数诉讼。我们提出了能够消除所有异常的 2SMG 机制，并依据反映印度法律的应具备性质对其加以刻画，从而预示了近期一项纠正该缺陷机制的改革。2SMG 后来因一项高等法院判决被重新发现并在古吉拉特邦实施；在最高法院撤销该缺陷机制的 Saurav Yadav 诉北方邦案（2020年）裁决中，2SMG 也获得认可。尽管 2SMG 未被明确要求实施，但对于印度一个重要的申请子类，它实际上被间接要求实施，因为没有其他机制能够满足最高法院的新规定。
Abstract
Sanctioned by its constitution, India is home to the world's most comprehensive affirmative action program, where historically discriminated groups are protected with vertical reservations implemented as “set asides,” and other disadvantaged groups are protected with horizontal reservations implemented as “minimum guarantees.” A mechanism mandated by the Supreme Court in 1995 suffers from important anomalies, triggering countless litigations in India. Foretelling a recent reform correcting the flawed mechanism, we propose the 2SMG mechanism that resolves all anomalies, and characterize it with desiderata reflecting laws of India. Subsequently rediscovered with a high court judgment and enforced in Gujarat, 2SMG is also endorsed by Saurav Yadav v. State of UP (2020), in a Supreme Court ruling that rescinded the flawed mechanism. While not explicitly enforced, 2SMG is indirectly enforced for an important subclass of applications in India, because no other mechanism satisfies the new mandates of the Supreme Court.