Working paper
A dissimilarity index of multidimensional inequality of opportunity
- Abstract:
-
A recent literature on inequality of opportunity offers quantitative tools for comparisons and measurement based on stochastic dominance criteria and traditional inequality indices. In this paper I suggest an additional way of assessing inequality of opportunity and operationalizing Roemer’s (1998) notion of equality of opportunity with an index of dissimilarity across distributions. The index is based on a traditional homogeneity test of multinomial distributions and is more helpful than other tools when both circumstances and advantages/outcomes are multidimensional. It also highlights the correspondence between dissimilarity in outcomes across sets of circumstances and the degree of association between circumstances and outcomes. An empirical application measures changes in inequality of opportunity from an old to a young cohort in Peru.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Reviewed (other)
Actions
Authors
- Publisher:
- Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI)
- Series:
- OPHI working paper
- Publication date:
- 2009-01-01
- Edition:
- Publisher's version
- ISSN:
-
2040-8188
- Paper number:
- 28
- ISBN:
- 9781907194092
- Language:
-
English
- Keywords:
- UUID:
-
uuid:fe77b57f-80e9-444d-aaf8-caa6dc145eed
- Local pid:
-
ora:9422
- Deposit date:
-
2014-11-27
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative
- Copyright date:
- 2009
- Notes:
- Copyright © Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative 2009. This publication is copyright, however it may be reproduced without fee for teaching or non-profit purposes, but not for resale. Formal permission is required for all such uses, and will normally be granted immediately. For copying in any other circumstances, or for re-use in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from OPHI and may be subject to a fee.
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