Title: Critical observations on the functionality of certain regional inequality indicators relating to economic and demographic variables: analysis by simulation.

POPLINE Document Number: 077741

Author(s):

Bressan F

Source citation:

In: Essays on population economics in memory of Alfred Sauvy, edited by Giuseppe Gaburro and Dudley L. Poston. Padua, Italy, Casa Editrice Dott. Antonio Milani [CEDAM], 1991. :313-32.

Abstract:

Indexes are often used to highlight regional differentials in economic, demographic, and social phenomena within nations. While facilitating interregional comparison, these indexes remain flawed. Of particular concern to this paper is the lack of index independence on the number of regions within a given country. This paper discusses the coefficient of variation, Shannon's entropy index according to Theil's model, and the Gini ratio of concentration. The author then addresses the lack of independence, provides a way to analyze the problem, and shares the results of a simulation with sociodemographic and economic information. Data are from Italy for the 1981 census period. The author sees no need to abandon use of these indexes, and hopes that his study will instead stimulate research for a truly pure index. Practitioners may also benefit from using corrective measures suggested in the text. Questions remain on the impact of varied physical shapes of states.

Keywords:

Italy
Economic Factors
Inequalities
Social Discrimination
Income
Population Density
Illiterates
Birth Rate
Demographic Aging
Methodological Studies
Demographic Factors
Cultural Background
Europe, Southern
Europe
Developed Countries
Socioeconomic Factors
Social Problems
Population Distribution
Geographic Factors
Population
Educational Status
Socioeconomic Status
Fertility Measurements
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Population Characteristics