Generalized Pareto Curves: Theory and Applications

Thomas Blanchet, Juliette Fournier and Thomas Piketty
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Juliette Fournier: MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

World Inequality Lab Working Papers from HAL

Abstract: We define generalized Pareto curves as the curve of inverted Pareto coefficients b(p), where b(p) is the ratio between average income or wealth above rank p and the p-th quantile Q(p) (i.e. b(p) = E[X|X > Q(p)]/Q(p)). We use them to characterize entire distributions, including places like the top where power laws are a good description, and places further down where they are not. We develop a method to nonparametrically recover the entire distribution based on tabulated income or wealth data as is generally available from tax authorities, which produces smooth and realistic shapes of generalized Pareto curves. Using detailed tabulations from quasi-exhaustive tax data, we demonstrate the precision of our method both empirically and analytically. It gives better results than the most commonly used interpolation techniques. Finally, we use Pareto curves to identify recurring distributional patterns, and connect those findings to the existing literature that explains observed distributions by random growth models.

Keywords: Pareto Curves; income data; wealth data; inequality; income; wealth; Pareto; power law; interpolation World Inequality Lab (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-02658851v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (123)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Generalized Pareto Curves: Theory and Applications (2022)
Working Paper: Generalized Pareto Curves: Theory and Applications (2022)
Working Paper: Generalized Pareto Curves: Theory and Applications (2022)
Working Paper: Generalized Pareto Curves: Theory and Applications (2017)
Working Paper: Generalized Pareto Curves: Theory and Applications (2017)
Working Paper: Generalized Pareto Curves: Theory and Applications (2017)
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