Summary of “Finding a Better Way”
In Amsterdam, a pressing issue arose concerning the fairness of welfare benefit applications. The investigative process, handled by caseworkers, led to unnecessary hardships for many applicants. Fortunately, the Smart Check system has emerged as an innovative solution to streamline this process.
Key Highlights:
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Challenges:
- Manual investigations often result in delays and unnecessary harassment.
- Over half of investigations yield no evidence of wrongdoing, affecting trust and well-being.
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Smart Check’s Approach:
- Utilizes an “explainable boosting machine” to assign risk scores using 15 non-biased characteristics.
- Avoids demographic factors to tackle bias and enhance fairness.
- The city anticipates saving €2.4 million annually and preventing debt for up to 125 individuals.
This algorithm-driven approach represents a bold step towards efficiency and transparency in welfare assessments.
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