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PovcalNet, WDI and ‘All the Ginis’: a critical review

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  • Timothy Smeeding
  • Jonathan Latner

Abstract

In this paper, we review three data sets which summarize world-wide inequality across countries and years: World Development Indicators (‘WDI’)/‘PovcalNet’ and ‘All the Ginis’ (ATG), each of which has some origins at the World Bank. We hope to inform both experienced and novice users of the existence of these important data sets, provide a review of their benefits and drawbacks, suggest how to use them, and provide suggestions for future improvements. The review is grounded in the history of the development of such data sets, which also necessarily informs users of critical information and the types of choices one must make in order to understand how to measure and compare poverty and inequality over space and time. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

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  • Timothy Smeeding & Jonathan Latner, 2015. "PovcalNet, WDI and ‘All the Ginis’: a critical review," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 13(4), pages 603-628, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jecinq:v:13:y:2015:i:4:p:603-628
    DOI: 10.1007/s10888-015-9312-4
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    3. Lahoti Rahul & Jayadev Arjun & Reddy Sanjay, 2016. "The Global Consumption and Income Project (GCIP): An Overview," Journal of Globalization and Development, De Gruyter, vol. 7(1), pages 61-108, June.
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    5. Nora Lustig, 2018. "Measuring the Distribution of Household Income, Consumption and Wealth: State of Play and Measurement Challenges," Working Papers 1801, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    6. Florian Dorn, 2016. "On Data and Trends in Income Inequality around the World," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 14(4), pages 54-64, December.
    7. Florian Dorn, 2016. "On Data and Trends in Income Inequality around the World," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 14(04), pages 54-64, December.
    8. Koen Caminada & Kees Goudswaard & Chen Wang & Jinxian Wang, 2019. "Income Inequality and Fiscal Redistribution in 31 Countries After the Crisis," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 61(1), pages 119-148, March.
    9. Tahsin, Emine, 2019. "Concentration of income inequality on the basis of Palma ratio and income deciles of Turkey on national and regional level," MPRA Paper 92490, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Chambers, Dustin & Dhongde, Shatakshee, 2016. "Convergence in income distributions: Evidence from a panel of countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 262-270.

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