We develop a theoretical and an empirical analysis of the impact of imperfect targeting, participation costs and incomplete take-up upon the level of progressivity, vertical equity, horizontal inequity and redistribution exerted by state benefits. For this, we make use of well-known indices of...

This paper extends the previous literature on the normative links between the measurement of poverty, social welfare and inequality. We show how, when the range of possible poverty lines is unbounded above, a robust ranking of absolute poverty may be interpreted as a robust ranking of social...

In many developing countries, a modern sector coexists with a traditional, informal, sector often intensive in child labor. In such a setting, when parents care about both the number and wellbeing of offsping, but also attach an economic value to children, there is a positive association between...