Bloomberg Is Deposed in Discrimination Suit

The federal government on Thursday morning began deposing Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in connection with adiscrimination lawsuit against the eponymous financial services and media giant he founded.

The deposition began at 9 a.m. in Manhattan, and was expected to last several hours, according to lawyers involved in the case, which was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Mr. Bloomberg’s participation represents the most significant moment yet in a class-action lawsuit on behalf of more than 80 female employees who argue thatBloomberg L.P. engaged in a pattern of discrimination against pregnant women who took maternity leave.

如果把劳动看着可交易的商品或服务，那么劳动力市场里，女性一直都是有趣的供方。需方怎么反应，供方有时不按市场来，直接诉诸法律，这些市场以外的力量。这种力量的诉求，是否说明劳动力市场 的无效，至少在保护女性上？又或者说，因为需方的关系，女性即使靠市场的力量也卖不了男人的价，还是因为女性本身的价值？如果市场不行，确实法律可以保护女性。这种保护的力量可以说是扭曲了市场均衡，但是却是一种善意的扭曲。