Asymptotic behaviors of the Lorenz curve and Gini index in sampling from a length-biased distribution

In this work, we consider the nonparametric estimators of the Lorenz curve and Gini index based on a sample from the corresponding length-biased distribution. We show that this estimators are strongly consistent for the associated Lorenz curve and Gini index. Strong Gaussian approximations for the associated Lorenz process are established under appropriate assumptions. We apply the strong Gaussian approximation technique to obtain a functional law for the iterated logarithm for the Lorenz curve. Also, we obtain an asymptotic normality for the corresponding Gini index.     

关于洛伦兹曲线和基尼系数的统计推断

本文对于洛伦兹曲线的最一般定义,在无任何附加限制条件下,论证了基于样本数据所得到的洛仑兹曲线的通常估计量具有强相合性.在此基础上,证明了基尼系数和Schutz系数的通常估计量均具有强相合性.此外,导出了基尼系数估计量的渐进分布,并在此基础上给出了大样本情形下基尼系数的置信区间.     

Multivariate Gini Indices

Two extensions of the univariate Gini index are considered:R_D, based on expected distance between two independent vectors from the same distribution with finite meanμ ^d; andR_V, related to the expected volume of the simplex formed fromd+1 independent such vectors. A new characterization ofR_Das proportional to a univariate Gini index for a particular linear combination of attributes relates it to the Lorenz zonoid. TheLorenz zonoidwas suggested as a multivariate generalization of the Lorenz curve.R_Vis, up to scaling, the volume of the Lorenz zonoid plus a unit cube of full dimension. Whend=1, bothR_DandR_Vequal twice the area between the usual Lorenz curve and the line of zero disparity. Whend>1, they are different, but inherit properties of the univariate Gini index and are related via the Lorenz zonoid:R_Dis proportional to the average of the areas of some two-dimensioned projections of the lift zonoid, whileR_Vis the average of the volumes of projections of the Lorenz zonoid over all coordinate subspaces.     

Distributions of maximum likelihood estimators of Lorenz curve and Gini index of exponential distribution

Summary This paper presents the maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) of the Lorenz curve and Gini index of the exponential distribution, their exact distributions and moments. All these MLEs are shown to converge almost surely and in therth mean. Further their asymptotic distributions are obtained. Here we use only very simple arguments to derive certain results that are very useful in statistical study of ‘inequality’.     

Bootstrapping the Kaplan–Meier estimator on the whole line

This article is concerned with proving the consistency of Efron’s bootstrap for the Kaplan–Meier estimator on the whole support of a survival function. While previous works address the asymptotic Gaussianity of the Kaplan–Meier estimator without restricting time, we enable the construction of bootstrap-based time-simultaneous confidence bands for the whole survival function. Other practical applications include bootstrap-based confidence bands for the mean residual lifetime function or the Lorenz curve as well as confidence intervals for the Gini index. Theoretical results are complemented with a simulation study and a real data example which result in statistical recommendations.

     

农村卫生资源配置公平性研究——基于2003-2005年黑龙江省13个地区的数据分析

运用多种评价指标研究黑龙江省农村卫生资源配置公平性,发现黑龙江省十三个地区各类卫生资源的三种公平性指数高度一致;卫生资源主要是按人口分布配置的,且公平性在逐渐降低;哈尔滨市、绥化市等地区资源配置公平性较高.同时显示政府的认识和重视程度影响资源配置的公平性.     

基于凹凸组合的一类洛伦兹曲线模型

为了统计和分析一个国家和地区的收入分配情况,经济学界往往通过入户调查获得家庭收入与消费等数据,采用洛伦兹曲线模型来进行数据拟合.洛伦兹曲线模型拟合效果的好坏,直接影响着收入分配的描述.本文构建了一类凹凸组合的洛伦兹曲线模型,并针对19个国家的收入分配数据进行了实证分析.结果显示该模型具有较好的拟合效果,其基尼系数能较好地描述收入分配现状,对反映和监测居民之间的贫富差距具有重要意义.     

Concentration curve for truncated and censored data

Concentration curve is the inverse Lorenz curve. Together, they form the basis for most measures of distributional inequality. In this paper, we consider the empirical estimator of the concentration curve when the data are subjected to random left truncation and/or right censorship. Simultaneous strong Gaussian approximations for the associated Lorenz and normed concentration processes are established under appropriate assumptions. Functional laws of the iterated logarithm for the two processes are established as easy consequences. The construction provides a solid foundation for the study of functional statistics based on the two processes.     

Empirical likelihood-based inferences for the Lorenz curve

In this paper, we discuss empirical likelihood-based inferences for the Lorenz curve. The profile empirical likelihood ratio statistics for the Lorenz ordinate are defined under the simple random sampling and the stratified random sampling designs. It is shown that the limiting distributions of the profile empirical likelihood ratio statistics are scaled Chi-square distributions with one degree of freedom. We also derive the limiting processes of the associated empirical likelihood-based Lorenz processes. Hybrid bootstrap and empirical likelihood intervals for the Lorenz ordinate are proposed based on the newly developed empirical likelihood theory. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to compare the relative performances of various confidence intervals for Lorenz ordinates in terms of coverage probability and average interval length. The finite sample performances of the empirical likelihood-based confidence bands are also illustrated in simulation studies. Finally, a real example is used to illustrate the application of the recommended intervals.     

An elementary characterization of the Gini index

The Gini index is one of the most used indicators of social and economic inequality. In this paper we characterize the Gini index as the unique function that satisfies the properties of scale independence, symmetry, standardization and comonotone separability. Furthermore, we propose a simpler way to compute it.     

Gini indices and the moments of the share density function

The expected value of the share density of the income distribution can be expressed in terms of the Gini index. The variance of the share density of the income distribution is interesting because it gives a relationship between the first and the second order Gini indices. We find an expression for this variance and, as a result, we obtain some nontrivial bounds on these Gini indices. We propose new statistics on the income distribution based on the higher moments of the share density function. These new statistics are easily computable from the higher order Gini indices. Relating these moments to higher order Ginis suggests new estimates on these quantities.     

一种收入分配洛伦兹曲线拟合的线性模型研究

洛伦兹曲线是用来描述社会收入分配状况的一种曲线,能够精确有效地拟合洛伦兹曲线是进行收入分配定量分析的基础.基于洛伦兹曲线的经济学规律和数学特点,提出了一种新的指数函数多项式拟合洛伦兹曲线的线性模型,并讨论研究模型的矩阵广义逆和线性最小二乘求解方法.通过与5个典型的非线性拟合模型的实例对比分析,验证了方法具有收敛稳定、精度高、对噪声不敏感的优点.     

The dependence of the height of a Lorenz curve of a Zipf function on the size of the system

The Lorenz curve of a Zipf function describes, graphically, the relation between the fraction of the items and the fraction of the sources producing these items. Hence it generalizes the so-called 80/20-rule to general fractions.In this paper we examine the relation of such Lorenz curves with the size of the system (expressed by the total number of sources). We prove that the height of such a Lorenz curve is an increasing function of the total number of sources.In other words, we show that the share of items as a function of the corresponding share of sources increases with increasing size of the system. This conclusion is opposite (but not in contradiction) to a conclusion of Aksnes and Sivertsen (studied in an earlier paper of Egghe) but where “share of sources” is replaced by “number of sources”.     

Apportionments with minimum Gini index of disproportionality: a Quadratic Knapsack approach

The ultimate goal of proportional apportionment methods is the minimization of disproportionality, i.e., unequal distribution of political representation among voters, or citizens. The Gini index is a well known tool for measuring inequality. In this work we propose a quotient method that minimizes the Gini index of disproportionality. Our method reduces the rounding of quotas to an instance of quadratic knapsack, a widely studied combinatorial optimization problem. Preliminary computational results, including real cases from the EU Parliament and the US House of Representatives, show that the method is effective, since the instances to solve are rather easy.     

Ordering Gini indexes of multivariate elliptical risks

Gini index is a well-known tool in economics that is often used for measuring income inequality. In insurance, the index and its modifications have been used to compare the riskiness of portfolios, to order reinsurance contracts, and to summarize insurance scores (relativities). In this paper, we establish several stochastic orders between the Gini indexes of multivariate elliptical risks with the same marginals but different dependence structures. This work is motivated by the applied studies of Brazauskas et al. (2007) and Samanthi et al. (2015), who employed the Gini index to compare the riskiness of insurance portfolios. Based on extensive Monte Carlo simulations, these authors have found that the power function of the associated hypothesis test increases as portfolios become more positively correlated. The comparison of the Gini indexes (of empirically estimated risk measures) presented in this paper provides a theoretical explanation to this statistical phenomenon. Moreover, it enriches the studies of the problem of central concentration of elliptical distributions and generalizes the pd-1 order proposed by Shaked and Tong (1985).     

混合总体基尼系数的下限——兼论我国城乡合在一起时基尼系数的计算

本文研究基尼系数的估计问题.国家统计局每年发布的统计年鉴包含城镇和农村个人收入的分组数据,但分点不相同并且未公布.这些情况对于估计整个社会的基尼系数带来挑战.本文对于两个总体按照一定比例混合后的新总体,针对来自原来两个总体的分组数据,给出了新总体的基尼系数的下限.并将所得的结果用于计算我国城乡合在一起时基尼系数的下限值.这些结果容易推广到更多总体混合情形,也可以应用到其它实际情况的基尼系数的估计,比如国家或地区的联合体.     

Generalized gini inequality indices

When incomes are ranked in descending order the social-evaluation function corresponding to the Gini relative inequality index can be written as a linear function withthe weights being the odd numbers in increasing order. We generalize this function by allowing the weights to be an arbitrary non-decreasing sequence of numbers. This results in a class of generalized Gini relative inequality indices and a class of generalized Gini absolute inequality indices. An axiomatic characterization of the latter class is also provided.     

Shape-restricted inference for Lorenz curves using duality theory

We propose a new methodology for estimating curves under a convexity restriction based on Fenchel duality and wavelet approximations. In contrast to approaches where a possibly non-convex estimator is convexified at a second stage, our procedure allows us to construct directly an estimator with a convex shape. The method is applied to the estimation of the Lorenz curve. Applications to estimation of average value at risk, as well as multivariate generalisations to Lorenz surfaces are mentioned. We show asymptotic efficiency which demonstrates that the convexity is achieved at no extra cost.     

Distributions and moments for estimators of Gini index in an exponential distribution

In this paper, we propose several estimators of Gini index of the two-parameter exponential distribution and obtain distributions and moments of the proposed estimators. The proposed estimators are shown to cosistency and will be compared in terms of the mean squared error (MSE) through Monte Carlo method.     

改进的收入空间法及其在中等收入人口度量中的应用

提出了衡量社会分配公平的局部公平指数D(p)=((L'(p))/((L"(p))),给出了其确切的经济学解释.同时定义了分别对应穷人和富人的Gini指数G_1,G_2,在此基础上建立了改进的收入空间法,用于确定中等收入人口范围:[(1-1/2D(1-G_1))m,(1+1/2D(1-G_2))m],其中m为中位收入.模型对2013全国研究生数学建模竞赛E题的收入分配数据进行定量研究,得出的结论与经济学的原理"两极分化时中等收入人口降低,中问隆起时中等收入人口升高"相符合,这体现了模型的准确性与可靠性.