Linear inequality concepts and social welfare

Ebert, Udo (1997) Linear inequality concepts and social welfare. DARP (33). Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, London, UK.

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Abstract

The paper presents an abstract definition of linear inequality concepts leading to linearly invariant inequality measures and characterizes the class of linear concepts completely. Two general methods of deriving ethical measures are proposed. They imply an Atkinson-Kolm-Sen index and a new dual index reflecting the inequality of living standard. Then all separable social welfare orderings which generate linearly invariant measures are characterized. The measures are presented and their general properties discussed. Dual measures prove to be additively decomposable. Linear welfare orderings defined on rank-ordered income vectors are examined. They are consistent with all linear inequality and yield an inequality ordering for every concept.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk
Additional Information:	© 1997 Udo Ebert
Divisions:	STICERD
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
JEL classification:	D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics > D63 - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
Date Deposited:	07 Jul 2008 12:52
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2023 22:44
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/6596

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