Fourth Week Palma ratio

Palma Ratio
This equation is defined by the richest 10% of the population's share of Gross National Income divided by the poorest 40% of the populations share.
Prevoiusly, the Gini index has beeen used to measure a country's inequality.
But this mark cannot say where the inequality exists. By looking at the Gini Index of a country's population, we can't know if the poorest 10% of a population improves their situation or not.
Because the Gini index looks at the distribution of income for the population as a whole, while the Palma ratio looks at the distribution of income by comparing different sections of the population, namely the richest and the poorest (top and bottom).
Because the capture of the middle classes in the total income is more or less stable for any period of time and in any given country, whereas the top and bottom's share vary more over time.
A higher Palma index means their is more inequity and a lower Palma index means there is less.
Also, a decreasing Palma Index over time also indicates a population, or a country, is catching up on the MDG's (http://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2014/eliminating-extreme-inequality-a-sustainable-development-goal-2015-2030/).
Implementation of the Palma Index is still highly debated, because you have people who either like it or oppose it. Of course, replacing existing formulae by more recent ones always will be resisted by some. But I also think that the Palma Ratio addresses more firmly to the rich (the top) to change their lifestyle. It's always about changing the lifestyle of the ruling elite isn't it? As been said, they account for the greater part of earth's pollution (see the ecological footprint).
Also, they have the most to lose when the inequity gap closens.
But we need to close this gap if we want the Earth to be a residence for generations yet to come.
How can we draw the rich to a sustainable lifestyle? Maybe if we make it a hype? Everything that is made into a hype, gets popular. So the scientists need to be more HIP! Is there an equations to measure the "hipness" of sustainability? Of course I'm just joking. Because when I look at it, there is not much to laugh about. I will end the blog for this week's lecture with a map which shows a worlwide comparison of individual nation's inequity. So the redder the nation, the more the inequity.
Looking at the map, there is still work to do, because even the U.S. have an inequity which is greater than that of Nigeria.



(http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/09/27/map-how-the-worlds-countries-compare-on-income-inequality-the-u-s-ranks-below-nigeria/)