Optimum Inequaliy

Assumption: There is a degree of inequality of resource distribution which leads to a minimum of redistribution conflicts. We find that range between a Hoover inequality of 0.2 and 0.3. Scandinavian societies get closest to that.

You know the 80/20 rule. This is similar to a way to describe inequal resource distributions: E.g. "80/20" could describe a situation where 80% of people own 20% of all resources, and 20% of people own 80% of ressources. (For distributions described in this way, the Hoover inequality is equal to the Gini inequality.)

From this you can compute another inequality measure: the Hoover inequality:
100/0 -> 1
90/10 -> 0.8
80/20 -> 0.6
70/30 -> 0.4
60/40 -> 0.2
50/50 -> 0

Yet another inequality is the symmetric Theil redundancy:
100/0 -> indefinitely large
90/10 -> 1.758
80/20 -> 0.832
70/30 -> 0.339
60/40 -> 0.081
50/50 -> 0

Formulas for the Theil-S redundancy and the Hoover inequality: www.poorcity.richcity.org


=== Meaning ===

The symmetric Theil redundancy (blue curve) applies to redistribution processes which are perfectly stochastic. Example: Equalization processes in ideal gases.

The Hoover inequality (purple curve) applies to intelligent redistribution of inequal distributions with minimum effort based on perfect knowledge about the distribution at any time. (For the groups split into one wealthy and one less wealthy part, the Hoover inequality is similar to the better known Gini inequality.)

The difference (red curve) between both is information. (You see that once you look at the formulas.)

On the left side the difference is negative. Societies in this range usually accept some inequality. Do people perceive an "information" which makes them want to reduce the inequality?

On the right side the difference is positive. In societies in this range there usually are more complaints about inequality. Do people perceive an "information" which lets them tolerate a certain inequality? (Inequalities with the most negative differences can be found e.g. in Scandinavian countries.)


Is that so? Can we compute and predict the acceptability of inequal resource distribunions?


I am an engieer, not an economist. But we all know that there are tolerable inequalities and extreme inequalities which lead to violent redistribution processes.