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Measuring the Socio-Economic Bipolarization Phenomenon

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  • Stefananescu, Stefan

    (Associate Professor, Ph.D., Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, University of Bucharest)

Abstract

The present paper emphasizes the differences between the Gini concentration coefficient [13] and a new bipolarization index proposed by [20], [21]. In practice, the Gini index is applied frequently to determine the poverty degree of the persons of a given population P. Although the pauperization and the polarization social phenomena are often very strong related, we shall prove that the bipolarization level of the individuals of P cannot be always accurately estimated by applying the classical Gini measure. Therefore, for evaluating the intensity of a polarization event is not adequate to use the Gini-type coefficients based on the Lorenz order.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefananescu, Stefan, 2008. "Measuring the Socio-Economic Bipolarization Phenomenon," Journal for Economic Forecasting, Institute for Economic Forecasting, vol. 5(1), pages 149-161, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:rjr:romjef:v:5:y:2008:i:1:p:149-161
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Molnar, Maria, 2011. "Income Polarization In Romania," Journal for Economic Forecasting, Institute for Economic Forecasting, vol. 0(2), pages 64-83, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gini coefficient; bipolarization index; Lorenz order; antithetic variables; bounded exponential distributions.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C43 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Index Numbers and Aggregation
    • C46 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Specific Distributions
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection

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