The Econometric SocietyEdited by: Guido W. Imbens • Print ISSN: 0012-9682 • Online ISSN: 1468-0262
Econometrica: Jul, 1981, Volume 49, Issue 4
https://doi.org/0012-9682(198107)49:4<869:EOFP>2.0.CO;2-0
p. 869-881
John C. H. Fei
When an initial income distribution pattern Y = (Y"1, Y"2,...Y"n) is given, the operation of a balanced budget fiscal program that involves taxation and transfer payments leads to a disposable income pattern D = (D"1, D"2,...D"n). Let I(X) be an index of income inequality. When the total budget (i.e. total taxes collected) is fixed, the problem is to design a "most equitable" fiscal program that minimizes I(D). It will be shown that the solution can be readily calculated from Y and is independent of I(X) as long as the Dalton's "principle of transfer" is satisfied. This condition is met by a family of indices of inequality including the Gini coefficient, Theil index, coefficient of variation and the Atkinson index.
March 5, 2024
The terms of the Editors of the Econometric Society's three journals end June 30, 2025. We are pleased to announce the incoming Editors and to thank the outgoing Editors for their excellent and continuing service.
Econometrica: Since 2019, Guido Imbens has served as the 14th Editor of Econometrica. On July 1, 2025, Marina Halac will become the Editor.
Quantitative Economics: Stéphane Bonhomme has been the Editor of Quantitative Economics since 2021. His successor will be Bernard Salanié.
Theoretical Economics: The Editor of Theoretical Economics since 2021 has been Simon Board. Taking over for him in July 2025 will be Federico Echenique.
Guido, Stéphane, and Simon have been outstanding Editors. We are grateful to them for the work they have done and will continue to do, and we look forward to further congratulating them next year. We believe Marina, Bernard, and Federico will be outstanding successors and we thank them in advance for their service.
Finally, we are grateful to Larry Samuelson for chairing all three search committees, and we thank the search committee members for their hard and fruitful work:
Econometrica: Christian Dustmann, Lars Hansen, Alessandro Lizzeri, George Mailath, Ariel Pakes, Helene Rey, and Elie Tamer.
QE: Kate Ho, Michael Keane, Felix Kubler, Whitney Newey, and Frank Schorfheide.
TE: Jeff Ely, Johannes Horner, Gilat Levy, Meg Meyer, and Ran Spiegler.
