Numerical measures of segregation: desirable properties and their implications

This paper proposes seven properties for a 'good' measure of segregation, a nd derives the class of numerical measures that corresponds to these proper ties. Measures in this class can be explicitly linked to segregation curves , much like numerical measures of income inequality can be explicitly Linke d to Lorenz curves. The paper evaluates the dissimilarity and Gini segregat ion indexes from the perspective of the seven properties, and introduces an alternative index - the square root index. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.