The Relative Deprivation Curve and Its Applications

Abstract

This article introduces the relative deprivation curve to represent the size distribution of income and wealth. The curve has many useful applications in the measurement of poverty and inequality, which are explored. The methodology developed is then applied to the data obtained from the Australian Household Expenditure Survey, 1975–1976.

KEY WORDS:

• Distribution of income and wealth
• Rawl's maximin rule
• Generalized Gini index
• Poverty measure
• Disaggregation of income inequality
• Equivalent adults