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On Measuring Segregation in a Multigroup Context: Standardized Versus Unstandardized Indices

Author

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  • Coral Del Río

    (Universidade de Vigo)

  • Olga Alonso-Villar

    (Universidade de Vigo)

Abstract

There has been little discussion about the consequences of using standardized, rather than unstandardized, segregation measures when comparing societies with different demographic compositions. This paper explores standardization in a multigroup setting through an analytical framework that offers a clear distinction between the measurement of overall and local segregation, embeds existing indices within this framework, and addresses gaps in previous research. The local approach developed here allows us to focus on the principle of transfers used in the measurement of overall segregation from a new angle and brings analytical support to the interpretation of the components of standardized overall measures as the segregation levels of the groups involved. This approach also helps clarify the debate around the measurement of school segregation since the distinction between local and overall measures, together with standardization, is key to understanding the relationship between the different proposals. This research also gives formal support to empirical strategies that compare the distribution of a minority group with that of the remaining population since they can be viewed as standardized local segregation measures satisfying basic properties.

Suggested Citation

  • Coral Del Río & Olga Alonso-Villar, 2020. "On Measuring Segregation in a Multigroup Context: Standardized Versus Unstandardized Indices," Working Papers 561, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2020-561
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Amaia Palencia-Esteban, 2019. "Occupational segregation of female and male immigrants in the European Union: accounting for cross-country differences," Working Papers 1905, Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Economía Aplicada.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multigroup segregation; standardized segregation indices; local segregation curves; local segregation indices;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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