区位基尼系数的计算、性质及其应用

基于产业规模探索区位基尼系数的简化计算、区域分解和两位数产业分解,给出产业份额、区位商以及产业份额空间测度加权区位基尼系数的分解公式,提供相对边际效应和增量分解的计算公式。利用我国2004年、2008年的经济普查数据,计算国民经济19个字母产业的区位基尼系数,得出以产业份额计算的区位基尼系数更能反映产业聚集程度的结论,并使用产业份额区位基尼系数进行实证分析。     

Inference by linearization for Zenga’s new inequality index: a comparison with the Gini index

Zenga’s new inequality curve and index are two recent tools for measuring inequality. Proposed in 2007, they should thus not be mistaken for anterior measures suggested by the same author. This paper focuses on the new measures only, which are hereafter referred to simply as the Zenga curve and Zenga index. The Zenga curve Z(α) involves the ratio of the mean income of the 100α % poorest to that of the 100(1?α)% richest. The Zenga index can also be expressed by means of the Lorenz Curve and some of its properties make it an interesting alternative to the Gini index. Like most other inequality measures, inference on the Zenga index is not straightforward. Some research on its properties and on estimation has already been conducted but inference in the sampling framework is still needed. In this paper, we propose an estimator and variance estimator for the Zenga index when estimated from a complex sampling design. The proposed variance estimator is based on linearization techniques and more specifically on the direct approach presented by Demnati and Rao. The quality of the resulting estimators are evaluated in Monte Carlo simulation studies on real sets of income data. Finally, the advantages of the Zenga index relative to the Gini index are discussed.     

The short-run impact of the stock market appreciation of the 1980s and 1990s on U.S. income inequality

The paper uses 1980 to 2000 Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) data to study the short-run effect of a stock market appreciation on U.S. household income inequality. Fixed-effects regressions suggest that a stock market appreciation raises the incomes of stockholder households more than non-stockholder households. The Gini coefficients derived from the regressions reveal a perceptible but rather volatile increase that can be attributed to the stock market appreciation, especially for the latter parts of the 1980s and 1990s. When averaged by decade, the stock market appreciation raises the Gini coefficient by about 2% for the 1980s and by 3% for the 1990s.     

Analysis of the practice of job evaluation in the metal industry in Turkey

Job evaluation's main aim is to establish a fair wage structure. Its main principle is ‘equal pay for equal work’. ‘Metal Industry Job Grouping System’ (MIDS) has been in the metal industry in Turkey for more than 20 years. The results of the practice of the system were measured by the Gini coefficient. By the findings, the average wages of the job groups are different enough from each other by their job groups in the way the wage of the bigger number job group is higher than the smaller except the job group two in the industry. However, the wages are far from the principle ‘equal wage for equal job’ within the same job itself. In addition, the workers make use of bonuses and social benefits. The effect of social benefits of them on the wage structure is positive within the same job group and negative between different job groups within the same company. Nevertheless, the effect of both bonuses and social benefits on the wage structure is negative between the companies because, between them they are different from each other. Job group and seniority affect the wage structure. Seniority has a socio-psychological self-producing dynamic. The distribution of seniorities within the same job group has negative effects on the wage structure. However, this fact for each worker disappears for the long term since the worker of today who has short-term seniority will be the one of tomorrow who has long-term seniority. Therefore, for each worker, the wage structure gets closer to the principle ‘equal wage for equal job’ within the same job group itself over time.     

Global estimates of growth–inequality–poverty (GIP) triangle: evidence from World Bank’s classification countries

This study extended the concept of ‘growth–inequality–poverty (GIP) triangle’ by using the principle component approach which allows us to composite different poverty and inequality indicators into one single index that contains most of the useful information from the original dataset. Using the idea of GIP triangle, this study examines the long-run relationship among weighted poverty index (which comprises headcount ratio, poverty gap and squared poverty gap); weighted inequality index (i.e., Watts Index, Gini Index and MLD Index) and average monthly per capita income in the designated 138 countries according to World Bank’s classification over a period of 2005–2010. The data set mainly contain countries’ unit record household survey at least one which is conducted between the countries during the sample period. The regression model encompassing the impact of economic growth and income inequality on poverty reflects that income inequality increases poverty while economic growth decreases poverty. It indicates that the impact of inequality in increasing poverty is a somewhat greater than that of growth in average income in reducing overall poverty in a sample countries. The other regression model encompassing the impact of economic growth and poverty on income inequality showed that the poverty itself is also likely to be a barrier for poverty reduction; and inequality seems to predict lower future growth rates. The final regression model depicting the impact of poverty and income inequality on mean income of the household suggests that poverty itself reduces mean income of the household while income inequality increases economic growth. The results are interesting and simply suggest that whenever social institutions malfunction, the incidence of damage would usually be distributed unevenly over the society’s members.     

A Cautionary Note on Estimating the Standard Error of the Gini Index of Inequality*

We will show that the regression approach to estimating the standard error of the Gini index can produce incorrect results as it does not account for the correlations introduced in the error terms once the data are ordered. To assess the effect of ignoring the correlation in the error terms we examined two distributions and show that the regression method overestimates the standard error of the Gini index. We recommend that the more mathematically complex or computationally intensive methods be used.     

税收累进性测度的改进：方法、比较和应用

提出判断税收累进性的边际效应方法：当总收入基尼系数的税收边际效应大于0时,该税收具有累进性特征;并将税收边际效应作为测度指数。边际效应指数与K指数具有完全相同的符号,不同税种具有可加性,它比K指数更为稳健,且赋予了税收累进性新的经济含义：税收对总收入基尼系数贡献率大于平均税率。同时还着重讨论几种测度税收累进性指数的关系,对各种测度指数进行了实证,发现S指数存在一定程度的缺陷。     

THE GINI CONCENTRATION INDEX: A REVIEW OF THE INFERENCE LITERATURE

More than a century ago, Corrado Gini proposed his well-known concentration index for measuring the degree of inequality in the distribution of income and wealth. His index is still extremely relevant and widely used in several fields of research and application. In this paper, we focus on the inferential properties of the Gini index, and discuss the main directions of analysis proposed in the literature. The aim of the paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the main developments on the inferential aspects of the Gini concentration ratio. We feel that this work can provide a valuable contribution to those scholars who are approaching the large amount of literature on the inferential properties of the Gini index.     

城市居民财产性收入与贫富差距的实证分析

利用1988～2009年国家统计局全国入户调查数据,本文研究了我国城市居民财产性收入的规模、组成、变化以及其对收入差距的贡献。采用基尼系数的分解方法,将每年的收入差距分解到各个收入成分的贡献,并发现与其他收入形式相比,财产性收入分布的基尼系数是最高的,对总收入差距的贡献也在迅速扩大,这一现象值得重视。本文还分别对东、中、西部地区进行了分析,发现财产性收入主要集中在东部地区。     

Additive Structural Decomposition Analysis and Index Number Theory: An Empirical Application of the Montgomery Decomposition

In recent years, a large number of empirical articles on structural decomposition analysis, which aims at disentangling an aggregate change in a variable into its r factors, has been published in this journal. Commonly used methods are the average of the two polar decompositions and the average of all r! elementary decompositions (Dietzenbacher and Los, 1998 Dietzenbacher, E. and Los, B. 1998. Structural decomposition techniques: sense and sensitivity. Economic Systems Research, 10: 307–323. [Taylor & Francis Online] [Google Scholar], D&L). We propose to use instead the ‘ideal’ Montgomery decomposition, which means that it satisfies the requirement of factor reversal imposed in index number theory. We prefer it to the methods previously mentioned. The average of the two polar decompositions is not ‘ideal’, so that the outcome depends on the ordering of the factors. The average of all elementary decompositions is ‘ideal’, but requires the computation of an ever increasing number of decompositions when the number of factors increases. Application to the example of D&L (four factors) shows that the three methods yield results that are close to each other.     

The resource curse and income inequality in Iran

This paper has investigated the relationship between oil revenues and inequality in Iran from 1969 to 2012. For this purpose, a threshold regression model has been used for capturing the non-linearity impact of the share of oil revenues in GDP on inequality. Two indicators have been applied for inequality: “Gini coefficient” and “the share of the richest decile of household expenditures which were relative to the poorest decile”. Estimation results of both inequality models suggested that there is a non-linear relationship as a u-shape between “oil revenues/GDP” and inequality in two regimes of oil revenues including high and low oil revenues regimes. The threshold level of oil revenues divided by GDP was about 10% for both inequality models. Before this threshold value, in low oil revenues regime, an increase of oil revenues would decrease income inequality, but after the threshold level and staying in high oil revenues regime, a rise in oil revenues would increase income inequality in Iran.     

基尼系数和中等收入群体比重的关联性分析

基尼系数是测量和判断收入分配状况最常用的综合指标之一,而中等收入群体比重则是判断社会稳定与否的重要标志。本文通过重新定义低、中、高三类收入群体以及采用多项式函数形式拟合洛伦兹曲线,建立基尼系数和中等收入群体比重之间的数量对应关系。实证分析表明:基尼系数和中等收入比重之间存在负向相关关系。2001年中国的基尼系数约为0．44,相应的中等收入群体比重大致在44%左右。     

No-arbitrage macroeconomic determinants of the yield curve

No-arbitrage macro-finance models use variance decompositions to gauge the extent of association between the macro variables and yields. We show that results generated by this approach are sensitive to the order of variables in the recursive identification scheme. In a four-factor model, one may obtain 18 different sets of answers out of 24 possible. We propose an alternative measure that is based on levels of macro variables as opposed to shocks. We account for the correlation between the macro and latent factors via projection of the latter onto the former. As a result, the association between macro variables and yields can be computed uniquely via an R²$R^2$. Macro variables explain 80% of the variation in the short rate and 50% of the slope, and 54% to 68% of the term premia.     

Love thy neighbor: Income distribution and housing preferences

Do homeowners prefer living in an area with a more equal distribution of income? We answer this question by estimating a semi-parametric hedonic pricing model for about 90,000 housing units transacted in Hong Kong between 2005 and 2006. We first identify a hedonic price function by locally regressing the rental price of the housing unit on its intrinsic and neighborhood characteristics, one of which is the Gini coefficient for household income of the constituency area. We then combine the estimates with a log utility function to obtain the heterogeneous preference parameters. Finally, we estimate the joint distribution of the preference parameters and demographics. We find that most homeowners have a strong distaste for inequality in their neighborhood, and the distaste increases with income and goes down with education level. Counterfactual experiments show that reallocating public rental housing by half can increase the welfare of homeowners by about HK$8,000 on average per year, an amount which is equivalent to increasing the housing unit by 20 square feet or reducing the age of the unit by 5 years.     

我国现阶段贫富差距的经济学分析

改革开放以来,在经济增长的同时我国的贫富分化现象也日益严峻,体现在基尼系数的变化、城乡收入差距的扩大、行业差异、地区差距、居民家庭财产集中度等一系列领域。传统城乡二元经济结构的存在、不合理的社会保障模式、经济领域的不平等竞争是导致贫富差距扩大的主要原因。政府必须利用各种经济、法律手段调节收入分配,缔造公平的竞争环境,同时加强以社会保障为主体的制度建设。     

INTRAHOUSEHOLD INEQUALITY AT DIFFERENT WELFARE LEVELS: ENERGY INTAKE AND ENERGY EXPENDITURE DATA FROM THE PHILIPPINES*

ABSTRACTS This paper investigates the relationship between intrahousehold inequality and levels of household welfare. Under certain conditions it is demonstrated — with both the unitary model of the household and with some collective models — that the relationship between household welfare and inequality within the household can have an inverted u-shape. Using two sets of calorie adequacy data from a sample of 455 households in the Philippines, a spline analysis is used to test the hypothesis that inequality within the household first increases and then decreases as per capita household total expenditure increases. The two sets of calorie adequacy data are based on repeated 24- hour recalls of dietary intake, and on calorie requirements that are unadjusted and then adjusted for individual activity patterns. Results indicate that once activity patterns are accounted for, calorie intake shortfalls are borne fairly equally within the household at all per capita household total expenditure levels.     

Competing Networks,Spatial and Industrial Concentration in the US Airline Industry

Abstract

The paper uses Gini decomposition analysis to evaluate changes in the spatial distribution and industry shares of total US air traffic, as well as analysing the decomposition components for individual airlines and airports for the period 1990–2002. The paper develops explicit relationships between two of the main decomposition schemes used in the income inequality literature and shows the insights that such analysis may provide for evaluation and examination of air transport networks and traffic distributions. A multi-dimensional Gini and its decomposition are derived using an adjustment method derived from the relationship between the two Gini decomposition schemes.     

Calculating a Standard Error for the Gini Coefficient: Some Further Results*

Several authors have suggested using the jackknife technique to approximate a standard error for the Gini coefficient. It has also been shown that the Gini measure can be obtained simply from an artificial ordinary least square (OLS) regression based on the data and their ranks. We show that obtaining an exact analytical expression for the standard error is actually a trivial matter. Further, by extending the regression framework to one involving seemingly unrelated regressions (SUR), several interesting hypotheses regarding the sensitivity of the Gini coefficient to changes in the data are readily tested in a formal manner.     

An analysis of the bounds for the Gini coefficient

The bounds on the Gini coefficient obtained by Gastwirth for the case of grouped data are considered. While the population bounds will always include the value of the population Gini coefficient and the estimated bounds will always include a suitably chosen estimate of the Gini coefficient, estimated bounds need not include the value of the population Gini coefficient.The distributions of the estimators of the bounds are considered and it is shown that a failure to take account of sampling variation can lead to very misleading results. In fact, increasing the number of income groups used tends to decrease the difference between the bounds, but the relative frequency with which the estimated bounds includes the population Gini coefficient decreases. The relationship between sample size, the nature of income groups and estimator precision is considered.     

修正加权变异系数:度量收入分配平等程度的有用指标

本文提出了用于衡量收入分配平等程度的修正加权变异系数计算公式，并且从数学上证明了修正加权变异系数具有类似于基尼系数那样的良好度量性质。与基尼系数相比，修正加权变异系数具有计算简单、容易理解的特点。此外，本文还讨论了修正加权变异系数计算公式中权系数的确定问题。