Presents advances in areas which consider both the individual and the group when measuring inequalities and well-being. This book covers topics such as relative deprivation and happiness, domains where even economists have now recognized the importance of reference groups in the assessment of individuals' well-being.

Divided into five parts, this title covers such topics as - information theory and segregation measurement; the Gini index and the measurement of segregation; measuring segregation with ordered categories; exploring changes in segregation; and, wage inequality and segregation.

Following rapid economic growth in recent decades, Asia and the Pacific experienced an impressive reduction in extreme poverty, but this drop was not uniform and achievements are still incomplete. Vulnerability to natural disasters, the increasing impact of climate change and economic crises should all be taken into account. There is also a need to consider the multidimensional nature of poverty and the non-uniformity of the decrease across different ethnic groups. This book explores the Asian 'poverty miracle' and argues for the development and use of an Asia-specific poverty line.