Disproportionality and malapportionment: Measuring electoral inequity

Burt L. Monroe

doi:10.1016/0261-3794(94)90031-0

Disproportionality and malapportionment: Measuring electoral inequity

Burt L. Monroe

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Political and social scientists often wish to measure inequity-the deviation of some actual distribution from a comparative standard distribution based on merit, need, or some other expectation. Measurements of income inequality have the longest history, but others can be identified, including two of direct interest in electoral studies: measures of disproportionality and malapportionment. While many economists agree that inequality measures must meet certain statistical axioms, there has been no recognition of these requirements for the wider case of inequity. This article presents a method for developing simple and easily interpreted measures of inequity that meet the desired axioms. Disproportionality and malapportionment applications are illustrated and contrasting results obtained with alternative indices highlighted.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	132-149
Number of pages	18
Journal	Electoral Studies
Volume	13
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0261-3794(94)90031-0
State	Published - Jun 1994

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Political Science and International Relations

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/0261-3794(94)90031-0

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title = "Disproportionality and malapportionment: Measuring electoral inequity",

abstract = "Political and social scientists often wish to measure inequity-the deviation of some actual distribution from a comparative standard distribution based on merit, need, or some other expectation. Measurements of income inequality have the longest history, but others can be identified, including two of direct interest in electoral studies: measures of disproportionality and malapportionment. While many economists agree that inequality measures must meet certain statistical axioms, there has been no recognition of these requirements for the wider case of inequity. This article presents a method for developing simple and easily interpreted measures of inequity that meet the desired axioms. Disproportionality and malapportionment applications are illustrated and contrasting results obtained with alternative indices highlighted.",

author = "Monroe, {Burt L.}",

note = "Funding Information: * This research was conducted while I was affiliatedto Lincoln College &Jniversityo f Oxford), St Hugh{\textquoteright}s College (Universityo f Oxford), and IndianaU niversity.A n earlier version was presented to the American PoliticalS cience Association,C hicago, September 1992. I would like to thank Iain McLean,R ichard Niemi, Doug Rivers, Gary King, Anthony Heath, and Vernon Bogdanor for their comments on earlier versions of the article, and the Cecil Rhodes Scholarship Trust and St Hugh{\textquoteright}s College for their generous financial support. Culpability for any errors contained herein is purely my own.",

year = "1994",

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doi = "10.1016/0261-3794(94)90031-0",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Electoral Studies",

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AU - Monroe, Burt L.

N1 - Funding Information: * This research was conducted while I was affiliatedto Lincoln College &Jniversityo f Oxford), St Hugh’s College (Universityo f Oxford), and IndianaU niversity.A n earlier version was presented to the American PoliticalS cience Association,C hicago, September 1992. I would like to thank Iain McLean,R ichard Niemi, Doug Rivers, Gary King, Anthony Heath, and Vernon Bogdanor for their comments on earlier versions of the article, and the Cecil Rhodes Scholarship Trust and St Hugh’s College for their generous financial support. Culpability for any errors contained herein is purely my own.

PY - 1994/6

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N2 - Political and social scientists often wish to measure inequity-the deviation of some actual distribution from a comparative standard distribution based on merit, need, or some other expectation. Measurements of income inequality have the longest history, but others can be identified, including two of direct interest in electoral studies: measures of disproportionality and malapportionment. While many economists agree that inequality measures must meet certain statistical axioms, there has been no recognition of these requirements for the wider case of inequity. This article presents a method for developing simple and easily interpreted measures of inequity that meet the desired axioms. Disproportionality and malapportionment applications are illustrated and contrasting results obtained with alternative indices highlighted.

AB - Political and social scientists often wish to measure inequity-the deviation of some actual distribution from a comparative standard distribution based on merit, need, or some other expectation. Measurements of income inequality have the longest history, but others can be identified, including two of direct interest in electoral studies: measures of disproportionality and malapportionment. While many economists agree that inequality measures must meet certain statistical axioms, there has been no recognition of these requirements for the wider case of inequity. This article presents a method for developing simple and easily interpreted measures of inequity that meet the desired axioms. Disproportionality and malapportionment applications are illustrated and contrasting results obtained with alternative indices highlighted.

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Disproportionality and malapportionment: Measuring electoral inequity

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

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