Functional classes of Lorenz curves are derived from a generalization of a relative poverty notion. All these Lorenz curves compare individual income to the average of all larger or all smaller incomes. The parameters of the Lorenz curves are effectively computed from empirical income data by...

A method is presented for using a single (0, 1) uniform random number to yield stochastically independent random numbers having a given finite distribution. The adaptation of the alias method to the given procedure is outlined. An application to simulate Brownian motion is given.

Majority coalitions are formed such that they can redistribute incomes to their favour. When inequality is to be increased in the interest of some, coalition partners must be found by compensation schemes. Compensation minimisation is shown to lead to the coalition partners being either a...