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Inequality aversion, health inequalities, and health achievement

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  • Wagstaff, Adam

Abstract

The author addresses two issues. First, how can health inequalities be measured so as to take into account policymakers'attitudes toward inequality? The Gini coefficient and the related concentration index embody one particular set of value judgments. Generalizing these indexes allows alternative sets of value judgments to be reflected. And second, how can information on health inequality be combined with information on the mean of the relevant distribution to obtain an overall measure of health"achievement?"Applying the approach developed by Wagstaff shows how much worse some countries perform when the focus switches from average health to an achievement index that also reflects the health gap between the poor and the better-off.

Suggested Citation

  • Wagstaff, Adam, 2002. "Inequality aversion, health inequalities, and health achievement," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2765, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:2765
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health Systems Development&Reform; Public Health Promotion; Health Monitoring&Evaluation; Early Child and Children's Health; Disease Control&Prevention; Inequality; Governance Indicators; Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems; Regional Rural Development; Health Monitoring&Evaluation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation

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