Tony Atkinson was an almost
mythical figure for me during my undergraduate studies in Bocconi, when
I first came across his contributions to the theory of optimal taxation and
later, when I decided to write my bachelor’s
thesis on the effects of progressive taxation on inequality. His JET 1970 paper
“On the measurement of inequality” remains one of the most inspiring papers I
have ever read. The idea that positive analysis and normative views of
inequality are inextricably linked (and that there exists no such thing as
value-free measurement of inequality) is also extremely relevant for current
economic and political debate. A few years after my encounters with his papers
I was lucky enough to meet Tony in person and to appreciate in several
occasions what an unassuming and generous person he was.
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