Atkinson, Anthony B. and Brandolini, A. (2009) On data: a case study of the evolution of income inequality across time and across countries. Cambridge journal of economics, 33 (3). pp. 381-404. ISSN 0309-166X
Abstract
This paper takes income distribution as a case study of the role of data in economics. After describing the transformation which has taken place with regard to the availability of data on income inequality, it discusses how the comparability of these estimates is brought into question by differences in methodology that cannot be eliminated by simple adjustments. Recent analyses of the relationships between income inequality and growth or globalisation are shown to be based on time series plagued by discontinuities which can seriously affect regression results. The paper concludes by calling for greater attention to data quality in applied economics.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://cje.oxfordjournals.org/ |
| Additional Information: | © 2009 The Author |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Data quality, measurement bias, income distribution, growth, globalisation |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions |
| Journal of Economic Literature Classification System: | C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C8 - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs D - Microeconomics > D3 - Distribution > D31 - Personal Income, Wealth, and Their Distributions |
| Sets: | Departments > Economics Collections > Economists Online |
| Rights: | http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/rights/LSERO.htm |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/33622/ |
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