Lampard, Richard. (2000) Measuring inequality in a cross-tabulation with ordered categories: from the Gini coefficient to the Tog coefficient. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, Vol.3 (No.1). pp. 1-14. ISSN 1364-5579

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Abstract

This paper introduces the Tog coefficient, which can be used to measure the level of inequality in a cross-tabulation of two ordinal-level variables. The Gini coefficient is a standard measure of income inequality which has been adapted by other authors for use in different contexts such as the measurement of health inequalities and the quantification of occupational segregation; the Tog coefficient represents a further stage in this process of development. The paper outlines the construction of the Tog coefficient and illustrates this using a social mobility table based on data from the 1972 Oxford Mobility Study. The trend in social mobility-related inequality as measured by the Tog coefficient is compared with the findings of Goldthorpe et al. based on odds ratios. A more elaborate application of the Tog coefficient uses a variety of data relating to the similarity of spouses' class backgrounds to demonstrate the existence of a long-term decline in the level of inequality in British society.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HA Statistics
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Gini coefficient, Income distribution -- Mathematical models, Social mobility -- Mathematical models, Inequality -- Statistical methods, Mathematical statistics -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Social Research Methodology
Publisher:	Routledge
ISSN:	1364-5579
Date:	January 2000
Volume:	Vol.3
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	pp. 1-14
Identification Number:	10.1080/136455700294897
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/1280

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