RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Income inequality measures
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 849
OP 852
DO 10.1136/jech.2006.052969
VO 61
IS 10
A1 Fernando G De Maio
YR 2007
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/61/10/849.abstract
AB The Gini coefficient has been the most popular method for operationalising income inequality in the public health literature. However, a number of alternative methods exist, and they offer researchers the means to develop a more nuanced understanding of the distribution of income. Income inequality measures such as the generalised entropy index and the Atkinson index offer the ability to examine the effects of inequalities in different areas of the income spectrum, enabling more meaningful quantitative assessments of qualitatively different inequalities. This glossary provides a conceptual introduction to these and other income inequality measures.