What do normative indices of multidimensional inequality really measure?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bosmans, Kristof; Decancq, Koen; Ooghe, Erwin
• 署名单位: Maastricht University; University of Antwerp; KU Leuven; Universite Catholique Louvain; Leibniz Association; Zentrum fur Europaische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW)
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2015.03.003
• 发表日期: 2015
• 页码: 94-104
• 关键词: Multidimensional inequality; equity; EFFICIENCY; Uniform majorization; Correlation increasing majorization

摘要

We argue that normative indices of multidimensional inequality do not only measure a distribution's extent of inequity (i.e., the gaps between the better-off and the worse-off), but also its extent of inefficiency (i.e., the non-realized mutually beneficial exchanges of goods). We provide a decomposition that allows us to quantify these two parts of inequality. Strikingly, the inequity component turns out to be a two-stage measure, that is, a measure that applies a unidimensional inequality measure to the vector of individual well-being levels. The decomposition also clarifies existing controversies surrounding two prominent transfer axioms, viz., uniform majorization and correlation increasing majorization. An application to inequality in human development illustrates the analysis. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.