Distribution-sensitivity of rank-dependent poverty measures

Kristof Bosmans

Journal of Mathematical Economics, 2014, vol. 51, issue C, 69-76

Abstract: We propose a criterion to rank poverty measures on the basis of distribution-sensitivity. The criterion compares reactions to ‘lossy’ transfers among the poor. We focus on the class of rank-dependent poverty measures and provide distribution-sensitivity rankings of the poverty gap ratio, the first and second Sen measures, the Thon measure, the Shorrocks measure, and the Thon, Kakwani and S-Gini classes of measures. Moreover, we discuss the relationship between the proposed criterion and two alternative distribution-sensitivity criteria based on the Arrow–Pratt theory of risk aversion. Finally, we provide an empirically tractable necessary and sufficient condition for unanimous poverty rankings by all continuous and replication invariant rank-dependent poverty measures that exhibit a predetermined minimum degree of distribution-sensitivity.

Keywords: Poverty; Distribution-sensitivity; Rank-dependent poverty measures; Inequality aversion; Risk aversion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:mateco:v:51:y:2014:i:c:p:69-76

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmateco.2014.01.012

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