Does a low Gini index correspond to an equitable or inequitable distribution of wealth? Explain. - for a general L(x), explain why G=2A

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
14th Edition
ISBN:9780190931919
Author:NEWNAN
Publisher:NEWNAN
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
icon
Related questions
Question

Lp = x^p for p is greater than or equal to 1

- Does a low Gini index correspond to an equitable or inequitable distribution of wealth? Explain.

- for a general L(x), explain why G=2A

Scientists studying the economics of a country, community, or group of people are often interested
in the distribution of wealth, where wealth is understood to mean the income or the personal assets
of individual households. A powerful tool for illustrating how wealth is distributed across a society
is the Lorenz curve (invented by the American economist Max Otto Lorenz in 1905).
A typical Lorenz curve is given by y = L(x), where 0 < x < 1 and 0 < y < 1. The variable
I represents the fraction of all households in the society and y = L(x) represents the fraction of
the total wealth that is owned by the fraction x of the society. For example, for the Lorenz curve
shown in Figure 1, we see that L(0.5) = 0.2, which means that 0.5 (50%) of the society owns 0.2
(20%) of the wealth.
bottom
botom
y A
1-
Line of perfect
equality
0.8 of households
control 0.6 of
the wealth.
Lorenz curve
0.5 of households
control 0.2 of
the wealth.
0.2
B
0.5
0.8 a1 1
Fraction of Households
Figure I
Fraction of Total Wealth
Transcribed Image Text:Scientists studying the economics of a country, community, or group of people are often interested in the distribution of wealth, where wealth is understood to mean the income or the personal assets of individual households. A powerful tool for illustrating how wealth is distributed across a society is the Lorenz curve (invented by the American economist Max Otto Lorenz in 1905). A typical Lorenz curve is given by y = L(x), where 0 < x < 1 and 0 < y < 1. The variable I represents the fraction of all households in the society and y = L(x) represents the fraction of the total wealth that is owned by the fraction x of the society. For example, for the Lorenz curve shown in Figure 1, we see that L(0.5) = 0.2, which means that 0.5 (50%) of the society owns 0.2 (20%) of the wealth. bottom botom y A 1- Line of perfect equality 0.8 of households control 0.6 of the wealth. Lorenz curve 0.5 of households control 0.2 of the wealth. 0.2 B 0.5 0.8 a1 1 Fraction of Households Figure I Fraction of Total Wealth
7. The information in the Lorenz curve is often summarized in a single measure called the Gini
index (proposed in a 1912 paper by the Italian statistician Corrado Gini). The Gini index is
defined as follows. Let A be the area of the region between y = x and y = L(x) and let B be
the area of the region between y = L(x) and the x-axis (see Figure 1). Then the Gini index
A
is G =
A+B
Compute the Gini index for L, when p = 1.1 and when p= 4.
(A+B)
A =
(x - L(w) dx
6= 2 L-S Llo)dx
A =
G = 2A
S LIx) dx
%3D
|-2
A =
A- i-S Lx) dx
A =
(1-0)= (0.0476
2.1
o.6
%3D
Transcribed Image Text:7. The information in the Lorenz curve is often summarized in a single measure called the Gini index (proposed in a 1912 paper by the Italian statistician Corrado Gini). The Gini index is defined as follows. Let A be the area of the region between y = x and y = L(x) and let B be the area of the region between y = L(x) and the x-axis (see Figure 1). Then the Gini index A is G = A+B Compute the Gini index for L, when p = 1.1 and when p= 4. (A+B) A = (x - L(w) dx 6= 2 L-S Llo)dx A = G = 2A S LIx) dx %3D |-2 A = A- i-S Lx) dx A = (1-0)= (0.0476 2.1 o.6 %3D
Expert Solution
Step 1

Gini coefficient is a way to measure income inequality. The Gini-coefficient is calculated by the ratio of the area between the Lorenz curve and the perfect equality line, and the area below the perfect equality line. Its value measures the extent of income inequality and its value lies always between 0 to 1.

1.

The lower value of the Gini coefficient indicates the equitable distribution of wealth in comparison to a higher value which indicates the inequitable distribution of wealth. If the value of the coefficient is near 1, there is greater income inequality and if the value if close to 0, there is lower income inequality.  G = 0.0476 indicated lower inequality.

 

 

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Wealth
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Economics
ISBN:
9780190931919
Author:
NEWNAN
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Economics
ISBN:
9781259290619
Author:
Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education