Household equivalence scales and the measurement of inequality. Transfers from the poor to the rich could decrease inequality

Paul Glewwe

doi:10.1016/0047-2727(91)90026-X

Household equivalence scales and the measurement of inequality. Transfers from the poor to the rich could decrease inequality

Paul Glewwe

Applied Economics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

The use of equivalence scales when measuring income inequality can lead to the paradoxical result that transferring money from poor to wealthy households may reduce measured inequality. This paper explains this result and restates the Pigou-Dalton transfer axiom in a way that gets around this counterintuitive outcome.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	211-216
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Public Economics
Volume	44
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-2727(91)90026-X
State	Published - Mar 1991

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Publisher link

10.1016/0047-2727(91)90026-X

Find It

Find It at U of M Libraries

Cite this

@article{f0a4ccc095cd4b69bfa40ece489dc368,

title = "Household equivalence scales and the measurement of inequality. Transfers from the poor to the rich could decrease inequality",

abstract = "The use of equivalence scales when measuring income inequality can lead to the paradoxical result that transferring money from poor to wealthy households may reduce measured inequality. This paper explains this result and restates the Pigou-Dalton transfer axiom in a way that gets around this counterintuitive outcome.",

author = "Paul Glewwe",

year = "1991",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/0047-2727(91)90026-X",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "44",

pages = "211--216",

journal = "Journal of Public Economics",

issn = "0047-2727",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Household equivalence scales and the measurement of inequality. Transfers from the poor to the rich could decrease inequality

AU - Glewwe, Paul

PY - 1991/3

Y1 - 1991/3

N2 - The use of equivalence scales when measuring income inequality can lead to the paradoxical result that transferring money from poor to wealthy households may reduce measured inequality. This paper explains this result and restates the Pigou-Dalton transfer axiom in a way that gets around this counterintuitive outcome.

AB - The use of equivalence scales when measuring income inequality can lead to the paradoxical result that transferring money from poor to wealthy households may reduce measured inequality. This paper explains this result and restates the Pigou-Dalton transfer axiom in a way that gets around this counterintuitive outcome.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0013252198&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0013252198&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/0047-2727(91)90026-X

DO - 10.1016/0047-2727(91)90026-X

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0013252198

SN - 0047-2727

VL - 44

SP - 211

EP - 216

JO - Journal of Public Economics

JF - Journal of Public Economics

IS - 2

ER -

Household equivalence scales and the measurement of inequality. Transfers from the poor to the rich could decrease inequality

Abstract

UN SDGs

Publisher link

Find It

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this