Introduction

Abstract

We devote this introductory chapter to underline some basic ideas that put in perspective the content of this monograph. First, that inequality and poverty are relevant problems, in terms of magnitude, extent and implications. Second, that those problems deserve attention at social, political and academic levels, as they affect society’s welfare. Measuring inequality, poverty and welfare is therefore important and complex as those measures involve ethical judgements (we move in the realm of normative economics). And third, that there is a number of methodological alternatives when it comes to choose the variable whose distribution is to be measured. Different choices imply different meanings of any evaluation exercise.