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| Brablo |
 Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:56 am |
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I would think that in order to measure the wealthgap of the poor and
rich, one would simply take the standard deviation of the average wages
or the amount of assets a person owns in a country.
Where can I find information regarding the wealth distributions of
developed nations in the world? |
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| Just Cocky |
| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:21 pm |
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On 12 Dec 2005 08:56:06 -0800, "Brablo" <gestureofrespect@yahoo.com>
wrote:
[quote:205ee3503f]
I would think that in order to measure the wealthgap of the poor and
rich, one would simply take the standard deviation of the average wages
or the amount of assets a person owns in a country.
[/quote:205ee3503f]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient
[quote:205ee3503f]
Where can I find information regarding the wealth distributions of
developed nations in the world?
[/quote:205ee3503f]
The CIA World factbook shows the Gini index for some countries at
least (income, though).
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ |
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| Guest |
| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:02 pm |
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On 12 Dec 2005 08:56:06 -0800, "Brablo" <gestureofrespect@yahoo.com>
wrote:
[quote:ff7ac55879]I would think that in order to measure the wealthgap of the poor and
rich, one would simply take the standard deviation of the average wages
or the amount of assets a person owns in a country.
[/quote:ff7ac55879]
That's actually not a very informative metric.
[quote:ff7ac55879]Where can I find information regarding the wealth distributions of
developed nations in the world?
[/quote:ff7ac55879]
The Gini coefficient is probably what you are looking for, but it is
usually applied to income, not assets.
-- Roy L |
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| Jim Blair |
| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:15 pm |
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"Brablo" <gestureofrespect@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1134406566.839889.81500@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
[quote:2438215196]I would think that in order to measure the wealthgap of the poor and
rich, one would simply take the standard deviation of the average wages
or the amount of assets a person owns in a country.
Where can I find information regarding the wealth distributions of
developed nations in the world?
[/quote:2438215196]
Hi,
Note the article described at:
http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/4834/ineq3.txt
The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality at any given time. But I
say more important is the mobility of individuals. Consider 2 cases:
in A the Gini index is lower (better?) but a decade later everyone has the
same status. Everyone lives their entire life with the same income or
wealth status.
In B the Gini index is larger, but most people start at the lowest level and
move up to retire in the top level.
I agree that in society A the lower the Gini index the better, but I claim
that in society B, the larger the Gini index the better: it means people
improve their income/wealth more during their lifetimes.
See Schumpeter Hotel and other things at:
http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/4834/ineq.htm
,,,,,,,
_______________ooo___(_O O_)___ooo_______________
(_)
jim blair (jeblair@wisc.edu) Madison Wisconsin USA.
This message was brought to you using biodegradable
binary bits, and 100% recycled bandwidth. For a good
time call: http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/4834
No animals were harmed in making this post |
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| Brablo |
| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:31 am |
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I agree 100% with you that "more important is the mobility of
individuals."
Is there a metric for this? |
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| Jim Blair |
| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:35 pm |
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Guest
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"Brablo" <gestureofrespect@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1134574295.139407.290070@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
[quote:3a46434881]I agree 100% with you that "more important is the mobility of
individuals."
Is there a metric for this?
[/quote:3a46434881]
Hi,
I know of no single index (such as the Gini Index) to measure mobility.
But the much debated Hubbard study provides one indicator of INCOME mobility
in the form of a table.
http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/4834/101.htm
Glen Hubbard, who compiled this, moved on to become Bush's head economic
advisor, and is now doing something else I think.
Some critics of the Hubbard study say that it is not individuals but
"families" that should be tracked. Others say that it is wealth rather than
income that matters.
And some (including Paul Krugman) mis-state the way Hubbard gathered his
data. See the various links below the table.
,,,,,,,
_______________ooo___(_O O_)___ooo_______________
(_)
jim blair (jeblair@wisc.edu) Madison Wisconsin USA.
This message was brought to you using biodegradable
binary bits, and 100% recycled bandwidth. For a good
time call: http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/4834
No animals were harmed in making this post |
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