World Income Inequality Databases: an assessment of WIID and SWIID

Publication type

ISER Working Paper Series

Series Number

2014-31

Series

ISER Working Paper Series

Author

Publication date

September 10, 2014

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

Notes

forthcoming in: Journal of Economic Inequality, special issue on “Appraising Cross-National Income Inequality Databases” (Francisco Ferreira G. H. and Nora Lustig, editors)

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