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Lorenz versus Zenga Inequality Curves: a New Approach to Measuring Tax Redistribution and Progressivity

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca Greselin

    (Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan-Bicocca, Italy)

  • Simone Pellegrino

    (Department of Economics and Statistics (Dipartimento di Scienze Economico-Sociali e Matematico-Statistiche), University of Torino, Italy)

  • Achille Vernizzi

    (Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan, Italy)

Abstract

In this paper we introduce a new methodology to study the degree of progression as well as the redistributive and re-ranking effects of a personal income tax system by employing and extending the new inequality curve (and index) proposed by Michele Zenga. Given an income distribution, the Zenga curve compares the economic conditions of two exhaustive groups of population obtained by dividing the overall population at all possible percentiles, from the bottom to the top observed income. Since the recent literature underlines that the Zenga curve shows features that are different from the standard approach based on the Lorenz curves, we show the potentialities of the new curve when studying the effects exerted by a personal income tax. This new methodology is compared to the classical one by a stylized example and by developing an application to Italian personal income tax data.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Greselin & Simone Pellegrino & Achille Vernizzi, 2017. "Lorenz versus Zenga Inequality Curves: a New Approach to Measuring Tax Redistribution and Progressivity," Working papers 046, Department of Economics, Social Studies, Applied Mathematics and Statistics (Dipartimento di Scienze Economico-Sociali e Matematico-Statistiche), University of Torino.
    • Handle: RePEc:tur:wpapnw:046
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    File URL: http://www.bemservizi.unito.it/repec/tur/wpapnw/m46.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Simone Pellegrino & Guido Perboli & Giovanni Squillero, 2019. "Balancing the equity-efficiency trade-off in personal income taxation: an evolutionary approach," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 36(1), pages 37-64, April.
    2. Anthony B. Atkinson & François Bourguignon, 1987. "Income Distribution and Differences in Needs," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: George R. Feiwel (ed.), Arrow and the Foundations of the Theory of Economic Policy, chapter 12, pages 350-370, Palgrave Macmillan.
    3. Matti Langel & Yves Tillé, 2012. "Inference by linearization for Zenga’s new inequality index: a comparison with the Gini index," Metrika: International Journal for Theoretical and Applied Statistics, Springer, vol. 75(8), pages 1093-1110, November.
    4. Plotnick, Robert, 1981. "A Measure of Horizontal Inequity," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 63(2), pages 283-288, May.
    5. Fernando Di Nicola & Giorgio Mongelli & Simone Pellegrino, 2015. "The static microsimulation model of the Italian Department of Finance: Structure and first results regarding income and housing taxation," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(2), pages 125-157.
    6. Atkinson, Anthony B., 1970. "On the measurement of inequality," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 244-263, September.
    7. Kakwani, Nanok C, 1977. "Measurement of Tax Progressivity: An International Comparison," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 87(345), pages 71-80, March.
    8. Paolo Radaelli, 2010. "On the Decomposition by Subgroups of the Gini Index and Zenga's Uniformity and Inequality Indexes," International Statistical Review, International Statistical Institute, vol. 78(1), pages 81-101, April.
    9. repec:bla:econom:v:50:y:1983:i:197:p:3-17 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Francesca Greselin & Leo Pasquazzi & Ričardas Zitikis, 2010. "Zenga's New Index of Economic Inequality, Its Estimation, and an Analysis of Incomes in Italy," Journal of Probability and Statistics, Hindawi, vol. 2010, pages 1-26, April.
    11. Francesca Greselin & Leo Pasquazzi & Ričardas Zitikis, 2013. "Contrasting the Gini and Zenga indices of economic inequality," Journal of Applied Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 282-297, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Personal Income Tax; Gini Index; Microsimulation Models; Reynolds-Smolensky Index; Kakwani index; Zenga Index.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies

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