INEQUALITY AND MAJORIZATION : ROBIN HOOD IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

摘要

The Lorenz order and its mathematical cousin majoriza-tion, best understood as natural consequences of accepting as axiomatic the belief that Robin Hood's activities in robbing the rich to give to the poor reduce inequality in the distribution of wealth, have proved to be useful tools in identifying and extending inequalities in a broad spectrum of settings in mathematics, statistics, economics, etc. A review of these concepts and a sampling of perhaps unexpected situations in which Robin Hood has an identifiable role are presented.