INEQUALITY AND WELFARE IN EEC COUNTRIES *

Inequality and welfare comparisons are performed using simple and generalized Lorenz curves and a number of ranking criteria suggested by Shorrocks and Foster, Dardanoni and Lambert, and Davis and Hoy, on Family Expenditure Survey data of nine EEC countries. The highest levels of inequality are observed in Italy and Greece and the lowest in Denmark, Belgium and France, whereas welfare is found to be relatively low in Greece and Ireland and relatively high in Belgium and France.