Dividing a cake (or) Distributional values in the measurement of economic inequality: an expository note
‘Distributional judgments’—judgments on the extent of inequality in the distribution of income and wealth—are routinely made by economists in exercises aimed at comparing inequalities in alternative situations. Yet the measurement of inequality is informed by certain nuances, which it wo...
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| Format: | article |
| Langue: | DE EN FR |
| Publié: |
Editura ASE Bucuresti
2014
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| Accès en ligne: | https://doaj.org/article/d5963103b6d0409fa79f7bba6cee587a |
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| Résumé: | ‘Distributional judgments’—judgments on the extent of inequality
in the distribution of income and wealth—are routinely made by economists
in exercises aimed at comparing inequalities in alternative situations. Yet the
measurement of inequality is informed by certain nuances, which it would do well
to be attentive to. In particular, the values underlying measurement protocols are
not always made explicit, which tends to lend a somewhat misleading semblance
of ‘value-neutrality’ to the activity of measurement. It is argued, with specific
reference to the problem of inequality measurement, that such an orientation
can compromise the possibility of accurate diagnosis and appropriate policy
prescription. There is little that is original in this article, and much that is
owed to the pioneering contributions of Serge-Chritophe Kolm. The emphasis
throughout is on explicating an important issue through a deliberate effort at
achieving simplicity in both argument and expression |
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