Table 1 Four Approaches for Inequality Comparisons [36]

Relative to average

The mean inequality of all individuals within a group

Often the easiest metric to obtain and compare. Can be used for both individual and group vs. group comparisons.

Group averages can mask important inter- individual inequalities

Relative to the best- off

Experience of the single best-off person in society

Can identify differences between poorest and richest individuals; easy to quantify for income

The best-off may not be a realistic equality standard, and the experience of the best off person may be difficult to quantify in a risk context

Relative to all those better off

The range of experiences of all those who are better- off than a given person/group

Allows a deeper understanding of scope of inequality within a group

Hard to identify the level at which claims would be deemed unequal

Relative to the best- off person whose condition is not anomalous

Compares individual claims to a determined "good enough" level

Allows for a more reasonable expectation of equality

Hard to define "not anomalous" in real-world context