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Measuring small area inequality using spatial microsimulation: Lessons learned from Australia

  1. Riyana Miranti  Is a corresponding author
  2. Rebecca Cassells  Is a corresponding author
  3. Yogi Vidyattama  Is a corresponding author
  4. Justine McNamara  Is a corresponding author
  1. University of Canberra, Australia
  2. Curtin University, Australia
Research article
Volume 8(2) Autumn 2015
Cite this article as: R. Miranti, R. Cassells, Y. Vidyattama, J. McNamara; 2015; Measuring small area inequality using spatial microsimulation: Lessons learned from Australia; International Journal of Microsimulation; 8(2); 152-175. doi: 10.34196/ijm.00118
4 figures and 5 tables

Figures

Figure 1
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Gini coefficients by statistical local area, new south wales.

Source: SpatialMSM/09C applied to 2003–04 and 2005–06 SIH, ABS Census Population and Housing 2006.

Figure 2
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Gini coefficients by statistical local area, Sydney.

Source: SpatialMSM/09C applied to 2003–04 and 2005–06 SIH, ABS Census Population and Housing 2006.

Figure 3
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Gini coefficients by statistical local area, Victoria.

Source: SpatialMSM09C applied to 2003–04 and 2005–06 SIH, ABS census population and housing 2006.

Figure 4
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Gini coefficients by statistical local area, melbourne.

Source: SpatialMSM09C applied to 2003–04 and 2005–06 SIH, ABS Census Population and Housing 2006

Tables

Table 1
Benchmark tables used for SpatialMSM
N° Benchmark table Level
1 All household type Household
2 Age by sex by labour force status Person
3 Tenure by weekly household rent Household
4 Tenure by household type Household
5 Tenure by weekly household income Household
6 Persons in non-private dwellings Person
7 Monthly household mortgage by weekly household income Household
8 Dwelling structure by household family composition Household
9 Number of children aged under 15 usually resident in household Household
10 Number of adults usually resident in household Household
11 Weekly household rent by weekly household income Household
12 Gross equivalised weekly household income by age Person

  1. Source: ABS Census Population and Housing 2006.

Table 2
Number and characteristics of failed SLAs
State/Territory Total SLAs Failed SLAs Proportion of failed SLAs Proportion of persons living in failed SLAs out of all persons within state/territory
New South Wales 200 2 1.0% 0.34%
Victoria 210 7 3.3% 0.52%
Queensland 479 45 9.4% 0.75%
South Australia 128 7 5.5% 0.32%
Western Australia 156 17 10.9% 0.87%
Tasmania 44 2 4.5% 0.15%
Northern Territory 96 53 55.2% 28.37%
Australian Capital Territory 109 16 14.7% 0.61%
AUSTRALIA 1422 149 10.5% 0.79%

  1. Source: SpatialMSM/09C applied to SIH2003–04 and SIH2005–06, ABS Census Population and Housing 2006.

Table 3
Comparison of Gini coefficient estimates from the 2005–06

Survey of Income and Housing and SpatialMSM

State Capital City/Balance of state SpatialMSM/09C 2005–06 SIH
New South Wales All 0.322 (+) 0.317
Sidney 0.324(+) 0.321 *
Balance of state 0.300(+) 0.287 *
Victoria All 0.306 0.306
Melbourne 0.308(−) 0.309 *
Balance of state 0.290(+) 0.274 *
AUSTRALIA 0.308(+) 0.307

  1. Source: ABS (2007b; 2008) and SpatialMSM/09C applied to 2003–04 and 2005–06 SIH, ABS 2006 Census of Population and Housing.

  2. +(−)

    indicates where the estimates from spatial microsimulation are higher or lower than the estimates directly from 2005–06 SIH;

  3. *

    Indicates that the coefficients have been calculated by authors. The Gini data at the capital city and balance of state level are not available from the ABS publication.

Table 4
Average proportion of persons in each Gini coefficient group by selected characteristics, all New South Wales, 2006.

In %

Gini coefficient – natural breaks* Immigrants Indigenous Managers and professionals Female LFPR Bachelor + Public Housing
1 lowest inequality 16.37 2.61 28.56 56.25 21.43 3.42
2 12.21 3.27 30.59 51.28 20.27 3.94
3 12.73 3.06 33.97 51.12 22.13 3.54
4 15.53 4.62 39.70 52.04 25.55 3.33
5 highest inequality 23.79 7.19 46.17 54.59 33.46 4.51

  1. Source: ABS Census Population and Housing 2006.

Table 5
Average proportion of persons in each Gini coefficient group by selected characteristics, all Victoria, 2006.

In %

Gini coefficient – natural breaks* Immigrants Indigenous Managers and professionals Female LFPR Bachelor + Public Housing
1 lowest inequality 17.98 0.56 25.48 59.97 22.09 1.57
2 14.29 0.71 30.11 55.43 23.71 2.47
3 14.13 1.07 33.41 51.41 21.96 2.55
4 16.99 0.53 44.22 53.17 32.62 2.08
5 highest inequality 30.18 0.31 56.23 60.79 54.69 9.69

  1. Source: ABS Census Population and Housing 2006.

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