Distance-based social index numbers: a unifying approach

Shlomo Weber, Walter Bossert and Conchita D'Ambrosio

No 14994, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We present a unified approach to the design of social index numbers. Our starting point is a model that employs an exogenously given partition of the population into subgroups. A general parameterized class of group-dependent measures of deprivation is characterized, based on the differences between the income (or wealth) levels of an individual and those who are better off. We then continue to show that the general structure of our class is capable of accommodating a plethora of indices, including measures of inequality and polarization as well as distance-based measures of phenomena such as diversity and fractionalization.

Keywords: Group-dependent deprivation; Inequality; Polarization; Diversity; Fractionalization; Social index numbers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 D63 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-07
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Journal Article: Distance-based social index numbers: A unifying approach (2022)
Working Paper: Distance-based social index numbers: a unifying approach (2020)
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