On unit free assessment of the extent of multilateral distributional variation

Summary Multilateral comparison of outcomes drawn from multiple groups pervade the social sciences and measurement their variability, usually involving functions respective group location scale parameters, is intrinsic interest. However, such approaches frequently mask more fundamental differences that comprehensive examination relative distributional structures reveal. Indeed, in categorical data contexts, location- scale-based techniques are no longer feasible without artificial questionable cardinalisation categories. Here, Gini’s transvariation measure extended employed providing quantitative visual multilateral tools discrete, continuous, categorical, univariate, or multivariate settings which particularly useful paradigms where cardinal absent. Two applications, one analysing Eurozone cohesion terms convergence divergence constituent nations income distributions, other, a study ageing, health, inequality China, exemplify use continuous environment.