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Inequality, Polarisation and Welfare: Theory and Applications
Author(s) -
Chakravarty Satya R.,
Majumder Amita
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
australian economic papers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.351
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1467-8454
pISSN - 0004-900X
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8454.00108
Subject(s) - inequality , index (typography) , welfare , economics , econometrics , mathematical economics , mathematics , public economics , computer science , mathematical analysis , market economy , world wide web
In this paper we explore the possibility of using the Atkinson (1970) – Kolm (1969) – Sen (1973) general ethical index in polarisation measurement. It is shown that though inequality and polarisation are two dissimilar concepts, different indices of inequality may be used to generate alternative indices of polarisation. A numerical illustration based on Indian household expenditure survey data is provided using several polarisation indices.