Inequality Measurement with Grouped Data: Parametric and Non-Parametric Methods
本文系统评估了参数分布和非参数技术在使用分组数据估计经济不平等时的表现，基于3300多个数据集，发现简单参数模型即可提供可靠估计，而非参数方法难以准确刻画收入分布。
Abstract Grouped data in the form of income shares have conventionally been used to estimate income inequality due to the lack of individual records. We present a systematic evaluation of the performance of parametric distributions and non-parametric techniques to estimate economic inequality using more than 3300 data sets. We also provide guidance on the choice between these two approaches and their estimation, for which we develop the GB2group R package. Our results indicate that even the simplest parametric models provide reliable estimates of inequality measures. The non-parametric approach, however, fails to represent income distributions accurately.