Knowledge MaxxingEqual opportunity
Equal opportunity is a fairness criterion requiring that qualified individuals across different groups have an equal chance of receiving a positive prediction.
Prerequisite: Demographic parity
What matters
Unlike demographic parity, this criterion accounts for actual qualification, focusing specifically on whether truly deserving candidates are treated equally across groups.
Example
A loan model satisfies equal opportunity if creditworthy applicants from different groups are approved at similar rates, even if overall approval rates between groups differ.
Common misconception
Equal opportunity is not the same fairness criterion as demographic parity; satisfying one does not guarantee satisfying the other, and both can't always be achieved together.
Recall question
How does equal opportunity differ from demographic parity in what it actually measures?