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A foray into the demarcation of the Gini coefficient

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  • Stark, Oded
  • Kosiorowski, Grzegorz

Abstract

We specify the domain in the income distribution that includes the people to whom income transfers will not increase inequality in that income distribution. Inspired by Sen’s (1973, 1997) characterization of the Gini coefficient as a ratio between a measure of aggregate income-based “depression” (stress) and aggregate income, we inquire as to whether in the wake of an increase of an income or of incomes in a given income distribution, the Gini coefficient does not increase. To this end, we identify the corresponding “safe” domain and show that the pivotal value that demarcates this domain can be elicited from a simple linear function of the Gini coefficient itself. Our rule of demarcation provides for policy interventions that seek to increase a particular income or particular incomes while not exacerbating inequality in the income distribution as measured by the Gini coefficient.

Suggested Citation

  • Stark, Oded & Kosiorowski, Grzegorz, 2025. "A foray into the demarcation of the Gini coefficient," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:254:y:2025:i:c:s0165176525002423
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112405
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lidia Ceriani & Paolo Verme, 2012. "The origins of the Gini index: extracts from Variabilità e Mutabilità (1912) by Corrado Gini," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 10(3), pages 421-443, September.
    2. Oded Stark, 2024. "A note on Sen’s representation of the Gini coefficient: Revision and repercussions," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 22(4), pages 1061-1067, December.
    3. Faguet, Jean-Paul & Sánchez, Fabio & Villaveces, Marta-Juanita, 2020. "The perversion of public land distribution by landed elites: Power, inequality and development in Colombia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    4. Amartya Sen, 1976. "Real National Income," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 43(1), pages 19-39.
    5. Sen, Amartya, 1973. "On Economic Inequality," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198281931.
    6. Oded Stark, 2025. "On a Transformation of the Gini Coefficient into a Well‐Behaved Social Welfare Function," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 78(2), pages 301-304, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C43 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Index Numbers and Aggregation
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • P46 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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