Table 2

Methods of Devising Composite Inequality Measures [36]

Model
Method of Calculation

Additive principle
Sum of each individual complaint of inequality; the higher the number, the greater the inequality
Weighted additive principle
Claims with greater significance are given greater value in the assessment
Maximim principle
The extent to which societal institutions maximize the average level of the worst-off group

Levy et al. International Journal for Equity in Health 2006 5:2   doi:10.1186/1475-9276-5-2