Histogram-based interpolation of the Lorenz curve and Gini index for grouped data
Date issued
October 1, 2012
In
The American Statistician
Vol
4
No
66
From page
225
To page
231
Subjects
income distribution inequality Gini index Lorenz curve
Abstract
In grouped data, the estimation of the Lorenz curve without taking into account the within-class variability leads to an overestimation of the curve and an underestimation of the Gini index. We propose a new strictly convex estimator of the Lorenz curve derived from a linear interpolation-based approximation of the cumulative distribution function. Integrating the Lorenz curve, a correction can be derived for the Gini index which takes the intra-class variability into account.
Publication type
journal article
