Course: Inequality and risk measurement: theory and applications

Professor: Eugenio Peluso

ECTS: 1

Aims & Objectives:

Researchers and policy makers currently use a variety of indices and statistical tools to assess inequality and socio-economic conditions, at the national or local level. Knowing their nature and properties is crucial to avoid misunderstandings and avoid wrong policy recommendations.

This course aims to clarify the mathematical, economic, and statistical foundations of the measurement of economic inequality and its close connection to the theories used in economics to assess risk and uncertainty.

It is divided into three parts: 1) A theoretical introduction to the concepts of inequality and risk. 2) Their measurement, in the unidimensional and multidimensional case. 3) Statistical applications to poverty, segregation, polarization, spatial inequality, etc.

Through in-depth analysis of the literature and methodology, intensive discussion of some recent applications, and a final short essay, we will develop students’ toolbox for understanding, evaluating, and building on research.