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Relative Inequality, Absolute Inequality, and Welfare: Large Sample Tests for Partial Orders

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  • Bishop, John A
  • Chakraborti, S
  • Thistle, Paul D

Abstract

Two general welfare criteria, mean-relative Lorenz and mean-absolute Lorenz dominance, induce partial orders on income distributions. We propose asymptotically distribution-free inference procedures, based on the union-intersection principle, for these two welfare criteria. Unlike classical tests, our procedures allow one to distinguish among dominance, equality, and noncomparability. We show that union-intersection tests must be used to test for partial orders, and that the statistical ordering is acyclic. The tests are applied to compare the UK distribution of real family income to five other countries. Copyright 1994 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the Board of Trustees of the Bulletin of Economic Research

Suggested Citation

  • Bishop, John A & Chakraborti, S & Thistle, Paul D, 1994. "Relative Inequality, Absolute Inequality, and Welfare: Large Sample Tests for Partial Orders," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 41-59, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:buecrs:v:46:y:1994:i:1:p:41-59
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Duclos, Jean-Yves & Jalbert, Vincent & Araar, Abdelkrim, 2000. "Classical Horizontal Inequity and Reranking: an Integrated Approach," Cahiers de recherche 0002, Université Laval - Département d'économique.
    3. Juan Ramón García, "undated". "La desigualdad salarial en España. Efectos de un diseño muestral complejo," Working Papers 2003-26, FEDEA.
    4. Coral del Río, 2002. "Desigualdad intermedia paretiana," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 26(2), pages 299-321, May.
    5. Matilde Mas Ivars & Francisco José Goerlich Gisbert, 1999. "- Desigualdad Y Convergencia," Working Papers. Serie EC 1999-07, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    6. Thesia I. Garner & Javier Ruiz‐Castillo & Mercedes Sastre, 2003. "The Influence of Demographics and Household‐Specific Price Indices on Consumption‐Based Inequality and Welfare: A Comparison of Spain and the United States," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 70(1), pages 22-48, July.
    7. Garner, Thesia I. & Ruiz-Castillo, Javier & Sastre, Mercedes, 1999. "The influence of demographic and household specific price indices on expenditure based inequality and welfare: a comparison of Spain and the United States," UC3M Working papers. Economics 6165, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Economía.
    8. Juan Ramón García López, "undated". "El diseño complejo de la encuesta de estructura salarial 1995: Implicaciones sobre la estimación de medidas de desigualdad," Working Papers 2003-24, FEDEA.

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