Editing Income distribution (section)

=== Measurement ===
{{Main article|Income inequality metrics}}
[[File:Shares of Income 2016 CBO.png | thumb| upright=1.5 | Income before (green) and after (pink) taxes and [[Transfer payment]]s for different income groups starting with the lowest quintile. Top 20% people take approximately 45% of the all income.]]
The concept of inequality is distinct from that of poverty<ref>For poverty see [[Foster Greer Thorbecke|FGT metrics]].</ref> and [[distributive justice|fairness]]. Income inequality metrics (or income distribution metrics) are used by social scientists to measure the distribution of [[income]], and [[economic inequality]] among the participants in a particular economy, such as that of a specific country or of the world in general. While different theories may try to explain how income inequality comes about, income inequality metrics simply provide a [[Systems of measurement|system of measurement]] used to determine the dispersion of incomes.

Gini Coefficient: A measure that represents the income or wealth distribution among a nation's residents, with 0 expressing perfect equality and 1 indicating perfect inequality.
Lorenz Curve: A graphical representation of income distribution, where a perfectly straight line (45-degree line) reflects absolute equality.
Quintile and Decile Ratios: These divide the population into equal parts (quintiles - fifths, deciles - tenths) to compare the income shares received by each group.