For every company that discriminates against Gypsies, others are trying out job preferment.

ECONOMIST: A Gypsy awakening

Mr Graglia, who has taught at the university for 30 years, issued a semi-retraction, emphasising the importance of equal opportunity but standing by his opposition to racial preferment.

ECONOMIST: Race and education

Amit Mitra, of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, supports similar schemes, as well as preferment schemes by banks.

ECONOMIST: Job-preferment in India

IPAN's Mr Desai says that they would be unworkable, but that some managers are beginning to see job-preferment as good for business.

ECONOMIST: Job-preferment in India

Colleagues vie with each other for preferment, yet must collaborate closely to fend off competition from without.

ECONOMIST: Can voguish management theory help to win a venerable race?

But, once entrenched, job-preferment policies tend to benefit the better off, become meaninglessly broad and hard to undo.

ECONOMIST: South Africa in black and white