As is well known, the use of the Gini coefficient in comparisons is inconsistent with an utilitarian approach. This paper analyzes the Gini coefficient's normative significance in welfare comparisons evaluating income distributions according to Yaari dual social welfare function. When...

There has been a large number of studies in which the scientists have built models for income distributions. As an alternative, some have built models for Lorenz curves. The step from Lorenz curve to distribution function is more difficult than the step from distribution function to Lorenz...

Distributional dominance criteria are commonly applied to draw welfare inferences about comparisons, but conclusions drawn from empirical implementations of dominance criteria may be influenced by data contamination. We examine a non-parametric approach to refining Lorenz-type comparisons and...

Distributional dominance criteria are commonly applied to draw welfare inferences about comparisons, but conclusions drawn from empirical implementations of dominance criteria may be influenced by data contamination.We examine a nonparametric approach to refining Lorenz-type comparisons and...