Dundee Discussion Papers in Economics 264: Understanding the vertical equity judgements underpinning health inequality measures

TY - UNPB

T1 - Dundee Discussion Papers in Economics 264

T2 - Understanding the vertical equity judgements underpinning health inequality measures

AU - Allanson, Paul

AU - Petrie, Dennis

PY - 2012/3

Y1 - 2012/3

N2 - The choice of income-related health inequality measures in comparative studies is often determined by custom and analytical concerns, without much explicit consideration of the vertical equity judgements underlying alternative measures. This note employs an inequality map to illustrate how it these judgements that affect the ranking of populations by health inequality. In particular, it is shown that relative indices of inequality in health attainments and shortfalls embody distinct vertical equity judgments, where each may represent ethically defensible positions in specific contexts. Further research is needed to explore people’s preferences over distributions of income and health.

AB - The choice of income-related health inequality measures in comparative studies is often determined by custom and analytical concerns, without much explicit consideration of the vertical equity judgements underlying alternative measures. This note employs an inequality map to illustrate how it these judgements that affect the ranking of populations by health inequality. In particular, it is shown that relative indices of inequality in health attainments and shortfalls embody distinct vertical equity judgments, where each may represent ethically defensible positions in specific contexts. Further research is needed to explore people’s preferences over distributions of income and health.

KW - health inequality

KW - vertical equity judgements

KW - inequality equivalence criteria

KW - inequality maps

M3 - Discussion paper

T3 - Dundee Discussion Papers in Economics

BT - Dundee Discussion Papers in Economics 264

PB - University of Dundee

ER -