Measurement requires compromises: the case of economic inequality

LSE Philosophy Fellow Alessandra Basso and Anna Alexandrova (University of Cambridge) have published their new paper "Measurement requires compromises: the case of economic inequality" in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science.

In their paper, the researchers examine considerations that enter into design and evaluation of measures in social science, categorising them into four drivers. Through an analysis of the World Inequality Report 2022, they reveal tensions among these drivers, illustrating the complex interplay between the various demands a measure must satisfy. Further, the authors highlight the need for case-by-case compromises to address these tensions.