On the Measurement of Polarisation: A Questionnaire Study

Yoram Amiel (), Frank Cowell () and Xavi Ramos ()
Additional contact information
Yoram Amiel: Ruppin Academic Center

No 2686, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Starting from the axiomatisation of polarisation contained in Esteban and Ray (1994) and Chakravarty and Majumdar (2001) we investigate whether people's perceptions of income polarisation is consistent with the key axioms. This is carried out using a questionnaire-experimental approach that combines both paper questionnaires and on-line interactive techniques. The responses suggest that important axioms which serve to differentiate polarisation from inequality – e.g. increased bipolarization – as well as other distinctive features of polarisation, i.e. the non-monotonous behaviour attributed to polarisation, are not widely accepted.

Keywords: polarisation; income distribution; inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2007-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ltv
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Published - published in: Review of Income and Wealth, 2010, 56 (1), 23-46

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Related works:
Working Paper: On the Measurement of Polarisation:A questionnaire study (2007)
Working Paper: On the measurement of polarisation: a questionnaire study (2007)
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