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Dispersion, Asymmetry and the Gini Index of Inequality

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  • Berrebi, Z M
  • Silber, Jacques G

Abstract

The paper shows that the value of the Gini Index of Inequality (Concentration) depends on the skewness of the income distribution. It i s first proved that the Gini Index belongs to the family of relative mean deviat ions. Then a new asymmetry index is defined which allows one to show that the Gini Index of symmetric distributions is always smaller or equal to one-half, whereas a necessary condition for the Gini Index to be greater than one-half is that the distribution be skewed to the right. Copyright 1987 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.

Suggested Citation

  • Berrebi, Z M & Silber, Jacques G, 1987. "Dispersion, Asymmetry and the Gini Index of Inequality," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 28(2), pages 331-338, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ier:iecrev:v:28:y:1987:i:2:p:331-38
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    Cited by:

    1. Stéphane Mussard, 2005. "On Decomposition of the Gini Index of Equality," Cahiers de recherche 05-09, Departement d'économique de l'École de gestion à l'Université de Sherbrooke.
    2. Paul Makdissi & Stéphane Mussard, 2008. "Decomposition of s-concentration curves," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 41(4), pages 1312-1328, November.
    3. repec:ilo:ilowps:292069 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Tom Van Puyenbroeck, 2008. "Proportional Representation, Gini Coefficients, and the Principle of Transfers," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 20(4), pages 498-526, October.
    5. Louis de Mesnard, 1997. "About the problems caused by the Gini and Kakwani index of inequality measurement [A propos des problèmes causés par les indices de mesure d'inégalité de Gini et de Kakwani]," Working Papers hal-01527267, HAL.
    6. Rassou R., 1993. "Statistical measurement of gender wage differentials," ILO Working Papers 992920693402676, International Labour Organization.
    7. Sawadogo, Relwendé & Semedo, Gervasio, 2021. "Financial inclusion, income inequality, and institutions in sub-Saharan Africa: Identifying cross-country inequality regimes," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 15-28.
    8. Hermann Ndoya & Simplice A. Asongu, 2022. "Digital divide, globalization and income inequality in sub-Saharan African countries: analysing cross-country heterogeneity," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 20(1), pages 1-19, October.
    9. Jacques Silber & Michal Weber, 2005. "Gini's mean difference and the measurement of absolute mobility," Metron - International Journal of Statistics, Dipartimento di Statistica, Probabilità e Statistiche Applicate - University of Rome, vol. 0(3), pages 471-492.

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