On correcting the concentration index for binary variables

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Health Economics
Year: 2013
Volume: 32
Issue: 3
Pages: 659-670

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This article discusses measurement of socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of a health condition, in response to the recent exchange between Guido Erreygers and Adam Wagstaff, in which they discuss the merits of their own corrections to the frequently used concentration index. We first reconcile their debate and discuss the value judgments implicit in their indices. Next, we provide a formal definition of the previously undefined value judgment in Wagstaff's correction. Finally, we show empirically that the choice of index matters, as illustrated by comparisons between countries using data from the European Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jhecon:v:32:y:2013:i:3:p:659-670
Journal Field
Health
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25