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Measuring Income Polarization Using an Enlarged Middle Class

Author

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  • Chiara Gigliarano

    (Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona)

  • Pietro Muliere

    (Università Bocconi, Milano)

Abstract

In this paper, a new class of polarization measures is derived axiomatically. The concept of polarization is here identified with the decline of the middle class. In particular, we extend the definition of middle class towards a more realistic framework: the middle class is defined in terms of central interval rather than median income. Then polarization is measured both as the presence of well-separated poles and as the dispersion inside the middle class. This new class of indices can be seen as a generalization of existing measures of income polarization. Also, a new polarization ordering is introduced. The new approach is illustrated with an application to EU countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Gigliarano & Pietro Muliere, 2012. "Measuring Income Polarization Using an Enlarged Middle Class," Working Papers 271, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2012-271
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    File URL: http://www.ecineq.org/milano/WP/ECINEQ2012-271.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. María Edo & Walter Sosa Escudero & Marcela Svarc, 2021. "A multidimensional approach to measuring the middle class," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 19(1), pages 139-162, March.
    2. Ms. Evridiki Tsounta & Anayochukwu Osueke, 2014. "What is Behind Latin America’s Declining Income Inequality?," IMF Working Papers 2014/124, International Monetary Fund.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    axioms; transfers; polarization measurement; income distribution.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C43 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Index Numbers and Aggregation
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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