Statistical limitations of the Atkinson index
The Atkinson index, though popular for measuring income inequality, has statistical limitations. One limitation is its sensitivity to the underlying income distribution, which can cause inaccurate results. Another limitation is its inability to capture changes in the middle-income range, focusing only on extremes. Additionally, the Atkinson index assumes that individuals have equal marginal utilities of income, but this assumption may not hold true in reality. Besides, the index does not consider other factors, such as wealth inequality or social mobility, which are crucial in understanding overall inequality. Therefore, while the Atkinson index provides valuable insights, it should be supplemented with other measures for a comprehensive analysis of inequality.
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