Minimum distance estimation of parametric Lorenz curves based on grouped data

Abstract

The Lorenz curve, introduced more than 100 years ago, remains as one of the main tools for analysis of inequality. International institutions such as the World Bank collect and publish grouped income data in the form of population and income shares for a large number of countries. These data are often used for estimation of parametric Lorenz curves which in turn form the basis for most inequality analyses. Despite the prevalence of parametric estimation of Lorenz curves from grouped data, and the existence of well-developed nonparametric methods, a formal description of rigorous methodology for estimating parametric Lorenz curves from grouped data is lacking. We fill this gap. Building on tw..