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Article
Income inequality measures
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2007)
  • Fernando De Maio, Simon Fraser University
Abstract
The Gini coefficient has been the most popular method for operationalising income inequality in the public health literature. However, a number of alternative methods exist, and they offer researchers the means to develop a more nuanced understanding of the distribution of income. Income inequality measures such as the generalised entropy index and the Atkinson index offer the ability to examine the effects of inequalities in different areas of the income spectrum, enabling more meaningful quantitative assessments of qualitatively different inequalities. This glossary provides a conceptual introduction to these and other income inequality measures.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2007
Citation Information
Fernando De Maio. "Income inequality measures" Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health Vol. 61 Iss. 10 (2007)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/fdemaio/6/