Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/103520
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 8501
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This article assesses two secondary data compilations about income inequality – the World Income Inequality Database (WIIDv2c), and the Standardized World Income Inequality Database (SWIIDv4.0) which is based on WIID but with all observations multiply-imputed. WIID and SWIID are convenient and accessible sources for researchers seeking cross-national data with global coverage for relatively long time periods. Against these benefits must be set costs arising from lack of data comparability and quality and also, in the case of SWIID, questions about its imputation model. WIID and SWIID users need to recognize this benefit-cost trade-off and ensure their substantive conclusions are robust to potential data problems. I provide detailed description of the nature and contents of both sources plus illustrative regression analysis. From a data issues perspective, I recommend WIID over SWIID, though my support for use of WIID is conditional.
Subjects: 
WIID
imputation
global inequality
inequality
Gini
SWIID
JEL: 
C81
C82
D31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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