Pundarik Mukhapadhyay () (National University of Singapore)
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to estimate the trend of social welfare for Australia using 1983-84, 1988-89 and 1993-94 Household Expenditure Survey data. The functional form of the Social Welfare Function (SWF) was derived by Sen, Degum, Yitzhaki and Shesinski (all independently). Since the function contains the Gini coefficient as the inequality parameter, it could not be formally disaggregated by subgroups of population. This paper, using a method of subgroup decomposition of the Gini coefficient developed by Podder, attempts to disaggregate the SWF. With this method it is now possible to identify disadvantaged groups by their relative shares in total welfare. In addition the method is used to determine effect of economic growth on specific subgroups, and in turn, on total social welfare. This study is based on the Australian economy. We identify distribution of relative shares of total social welfare among various regional groups, groups determined by occupational status and groups determined by country of birth. The effect on society's welfare for a percentage change in income of a group and the trend of relative welfare of a specific group are also computed. This information can be used in a variety of social decision making situations, including cost benefit analysis.
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by National University of Singapore, Department of Economics in its series Departmental Working Papers with number
wp0115.