Measures of inequality, classified by absolute or relative form
| Measure | Absolute/relative | Bi/univariate | Health measure | SES measure | Type of inequality measure* | Detects reverse gradients | Detects group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Type of inequality measure: (e) effect, (s) shortfall, (h) heterogeneity, (i) inequality. For detailed description of measures see various references.6–10 | |||||||
| Rate difference | a | b | rates | extreme groups | e | y | n |
| Rate ratio | r | b | rates | extreme groups | e | y | n |
| Population attributable risk | a | b | rates | dichotomous | s | y | n |
| Population attributable risk | r | b | rates | dichotomous | s | y | n |
| Index of dissimilarity | a | b | usually cases/deaths | nominal | h | n | y |
| Index of dissimilarity | r | b | usually cases/deaths | nominal | h | n | y |
| Slope index of inequality | a | b | rates | ordinal | i | y | y |
| Slope index of inequality | r | b | rates | ordinal | i | y | y |
| Concentration index | a | b | Ratio scale measure | ordinal | i | y | y |
| Concentration index | r | b | Ratio scale measure | ordinal | i | y | y |
| Agresti’s α | r | b | Ordinal scale measure | ordinal | i | y | y |