Given that the Lorenz curve is widely used for analyzing income distribution and inequality, this study introduces an alternative functional form for the Lorenz curve that is constructed based on the weighted average of the exponential function and the functional form implied by Pareto...

The inequality dataset compiled in the 1990s by the World Bank and extendedby the UN has been both widely used and strongly criticized. The criticisms raisequestions about conclusions drawn from secondary inequality datasets in general. Wedevelop techniques to deal with national and...

Not everybody is benefiting equally from rising mean incomes. We discuss the mean-income population share (MPS), defined as the population share earning less than the mean income, as an indicator of how representative the mean income is for the mass of the population. This measure is both...

This paper proposes a single parameter functional form for the Lorenz curve and compares its performance with the existing single parameter functional forms using Australian income data for 10 years. The proposed parametric functional form performs better than the existing Lorenz functional...

The inequality dataset compiled in the 1990s by the World Bank and extended by the United Nations has been both widely used and strongly criticized. The criticisms raise questions about conclusions drawn from secondary inequality datasets in general. The authors develop techniques to deal with...

We examine the relationship between changes in a country’s public sector fiscal position and inequality at the top and bottom of the income distribution during the age of austerity (2006–13). We use a parametric Lorenz curve model and Gini-like indices of inequality as our measures to assess...

Understanding wealth inequality has unique significance in South Africa. The coexistence of extreme poverty and extreme wealth is starkly visible. Apartheid-era inequality has persisted despite more than 20 years of democracy. Much of the research on inequality has focused on inequality of...

The inequality of wealth in China has increased rapidly in recent years. Prior to 1978 all Chinese households possessed negligible wealth. China therefore presents a fascinating case study of how inequality of household wealth increases as economic reforms take place, marketization occurs, and...