Measurement of inequality with a finite number of pay states : the majorization set and its applications

I am grateful to Vassily Gorbanov, Tarik Yalcin and Fabrizio Germano for extended discussions and suggestions, and to an associate editor and a reviewer for constructive comments. I also wish to thank Francesco Andreoli, Geoffrey Burton, Joe Swierzbinski, Alain Trannoy, Claudio Zoli and seminar participants at the Aix-Marseille School of Economics for discussions. I am responsible for any errors.Peer reviewedPostprin

Statistical Inference for Multidimensional Inequality Indices

We use the delta method to derive the large sample distribution of mul- tidimensional inequality indices. We also present a simple method for com- puting standard errors and obtain explicit formulas in the context of two families of indiceslarge sample distributions; standard errors; multidimensional inequality indices

Estimating the Intergenerational Correlation of Incomes: An Errors in Variables Framework

The estimation of the intergenerational correlation of incomes is usually carried out by proxying permanent incomes using suitable indicators of economic status, and by treating the resulting measurement error problem using averaging or instrumenting procedures. Here we take the permanent income of the parents' family to be unobserved, but we assume that its determinants are known to the researcher. A two-stage procedure as well as a MIMIC type covariance estimator applied to a US sample of parents and children entail estimates of the order of 0.61 to 0.64 for the coefficient of intergenerational income transmission. OLS estimates this parameter at 0.5. The variance ratio of permanent to total income is also estimated to be in the range of 0.77 to 0.8, implying a correction factor of 1.25 to 1.3 for OLS estimates.Intergenerational mobility, errors in variables

Estimating the Intergenerational Correlation of Incomes : An Errors in Variables Framework

Because the permanent incomes of parents and children are typically unobservable, the estimation of the intergenerational correlation of incomes is usually carried out via averaging methods or instrumentation. In this paper we take the permanent income of the parent family to be unobserved, but we assume that a model for its determinants is known to the researcher. In turn, this leads us to propose two related estimators for the intergenerational correlation: a two-stage least squares procedure and a more efficient MIMIC estimator. The MIMIC framework also provides estimates for the determinants of permanent income and the variance parameters required to evaluate the bias of the OLS estimator. Using a US sample of parents and children we provide estimates for the intergenerational correlation ranging between 0.30 and 0.78. The bias of the OLS estimator is estimated to be in the order of 40%.intergenerational mobility; errors in variables

A Note on the Estimation of Intergenerational Income Correlations by the Method of Averaging

Averaging methods are routinely used in order to limit biases resulting from the mismeasurement of permanent incomes. The Solon/Zimmerman estimator regresses a single-year measurement of the child's resources on a T-period average of the parents' income while the Behrman/Taubman estimator regresses an S-period average of the child's resources on a T-period average of the parents' income. The latter estimator is shown to be the arithmetic mean of the S slope estimates arising from the Solon/Zimmerman methodology. However, because sampling variation produces yearly changes in the variance of children's incomes, it is shown that the Behrman/Taubman estimator is not efficient in the class of estimators which can be expressed as a weighted sum of the S distinct Solon/Zimmerman estimates. The minimum variance estimator in the above class is thus derived and applied to a US sample.intergenerational mobility ; measurement error; averaging methods; minimum variance estimation.

A Note on the Estimation of Intergenerational Income Correlations by the Method of Averaging

Averaging methods are routinely used in order to limit biases resulting from the mismeasurement of permanent incomes. The Solon/Zimmerman estimator regresses a single-year measurement of the child's resources on a T-period average of the parents' income while the Behrman/Taubman estimator regresses an S-period average of the child's resources on a T-period average of the parents' income. The latter estimator is shown to be the arithmetic mean of the S slope estimates arising from the Solon/Zimmerman methodology. However, because sampling variation produces yearly changes in the variance of children's incomes, it is shown that the Behrman/Taubman estimator is not efficient in the class of estimators which can be expressed as a weighted sum of the S distinct Solon/Zimmerman estimates. The minimum variance estimator in the above class is thus derived and applied to a US sample.Welfare index, inequality, poverty, sample, inference.

Inequality Measurement forOrdered Response Health Data

When health status is an ordered response variable, Allison and Foster (2004)postulate that a distribution Q ?exhibits more inequality than a distribution P ?if Q ?isobtained from P ?via a sequence of median preserving spreads. This paper introduces aparametric family of inequality indices which are founded on the Allison and Fosterordering.Self-reported health status, inequality orderings, inequalitymeasures.

Catastrophic Health ExpenditureandHousehold Well-Being

According to the catastrophic health expenditure methodology a household is in catastrophe if its health out-of-pocket budget share exceeds a critical threshold. We develop a conceptual framework for addressing three questions in relation to this methodology, namely: 1. Can a budget share be informative about the sign of a change in welfare? 2. Is there a positive association between a household's poverty shortfall and its health out-of-pocket budget share? 3. Does an increase in population coverage of a health insurance scheme always result in a reduction of the prevalence of catastrophic expenditures?Catastrophic health expenditure, welfare change, poverty, performanceof health insurance schemes.

Catastrophic Health Expenditure and Household Well-Being

According to the catastrophic health expenditure methodology a house-hold is in catastrophe if its health out-of-pocket budget share exceeds a critical threshold. We develop a conceptual framework for addressing three questions in relation to this methodology, namely: 1. Can a budget share be informative about the sign of a change in welfare? 2. Is there a positive association between a households poverty shortfall and its health out-of-pocket budget share? 3. Does an increase in coverage of a health insurance scheme always result in a reduction of the prevalence of catastrophic ex-penditures?

Poverty and Permanent Income : A Methodology for Cross-Section Data

If the set of households which are income poor does not fully overlap with the set of the consumption poor, it could well be that income and consumption expenditure convey different information regarding an unobserved variable on the basis of which families allocate their resources intertemporally. This paper presents a methodology for predicting the unobserved permanent incomes of households using multiple welfare indicators typically available in cross-section data. The methods are illustrated using data from the Swiss Consumption Survey of 1990.poverty; permanent income; latent variables; prediction; Switzerland