Morning roundup

• Inside Higher Ed gives some stats on racial preferment policies in US universities: an Asian student needs an SAT score 140 points higher than a white student to have the same probability of being accepted at a private college; a black student needs a score 310 points lower to have the same probability of acceptance. This of course has effects on student outcomes in terms of class rank.


• Canada proposes having the self-employed be given access to maternity benefits through the employment insurance system one year after voluntarily joining the scheme. If they can quit the system just as easily, adverse selection anyone?


• The continued importance of cultural literacy, HT: Arts & Letters Daily. Previously mulled-upon here.. Hirsch goes on a bit too much on Rousseauian "making men" arguments, but it's hard to argue against the importance of having a basic package of knowledge.