Counterfactual Fairness Is Not Demographic Parity, and Other Observations

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the claimed equivalence between counterfactual fairness and demographic parity, clarifying misunderstandings and emphasizing the nuanced differences between causal and probabilistic fairness notions.

Contribution

It refutes the claim that counterfactual fairness is equivalent to demographic parity and discusses broader misconceptions about causal fairness concepts.

Findings

Counterfactual fairness is not equivalent to demographic parity.

Misunderstandings about causal and probabilistic fairness are clarified.

The paper emphasizes careful interpretation of causal fairness concepts.

Abstract

Blanket statements of equivalence between causal concepts and purely probabilistic concepts should be approached with care. In this short note, I examine a recent claim that counterfactual fairness is equivalent to demographic parity. The claim fails to hold up upon closer examination. I will take the opportunity to address some broader misunderstandings about counterfactual fairness.