![](https://d3ilqtpdwi981i.cloudfront.net/NhLszeKRE-iaqHfzRC-T8QQQ3u8=/425x550/smart/https://bepress-attached-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/d6/dd/67/d6dd67c5-0f08-41d9-b6a3-1145fea73338/thumbnail_8e0735bf-1093-48d5-bd3c-585b0db69bb0.jpg)
Article
The Gini Index and Measures of Inequality
Mathematics and Computer Science
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2010
Publisher
Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
Disciplines
Abstract
The Gini index is a summary statistic that measures how fairly a resource is distributed in a population; income is a primary example. In addition to a self-contained presentation of the Gini index, we give two equivalent ways to interpret this summary statistic: first in terms of the percentile level of the person who earns the average dollar, and second in terms of how the lower of two randomly chosen incomes compares, on average, to mean income.
Citation Information
"FARRIS, Frank A. "The Gini Index and Measures of Equitability,"American Mathematical Monthly, December 2010: 851-864."
Copyright 2010 Mathematical Association of America. All Rights Reserved. DOI:10.4169/000298910X523344