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Income inequality measures

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6

Correspondence to:
Fernando G De Maio: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6; fdemaio{at}sfu.ca

The Gini coefficient has been the most popular method for operationalising income inequality in the public health literature. However, a number of alternative methods exist, and they offer researchers the means to develop a more nuanced understanding of the distribution of income. Income inequality measures such as the generalised entropy index and the Atkinson index offer the ability to examine the effects of inequalities in different areas of the income spectrum, enabling more meaningful quantitative assessments of qualitatively different inequalities. This glossary provides a conceptual introduction to these and other income inequality measures.

Keywords: Atkinson; generalised entropy; Gini; Lorenz; income inequality

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