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In this article we propose for a generalized gamma population method of moment estimators for the three unknown parameters. This method of moment approach is based on estimating the unknown parameters of the log generalized gamma distribution. Contrary to the more classical method of moment approaches discussed in the literature the associated system of nonlinear equations satisfies the following properties. The system of nonlinear equations associated with these moment estimators do not have a solution if and only if the sample moment estimation of the skewness of a log generalized gamma distribution is outside a given interval. This might happen with a positive probability for small sample sizes and this probability goes to zero as the sample size increases. However, if the system of nonlinear equations has a solution the method of moment estimators are a unique solution of this system and this solution is easy to determine by applying a univariate bisection procedure. The efficiency of these methods of moment estimators are tested in the computational section against the classical maximum likelihood estimators. Based on these experiments we give some guidelines how to use these methods of moments estimators in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the above commentary, Braveman et al. criticize our papers (1, 2) for taking health inequalities across individuals as the starting point for efforts to standardize and promote the comparable [...]

This paper proposes an approach to conceptualizing and operationalizing the measurement of health inequality, defined as differences in health across individuals in the population. We propose that health is an intrinsic component of well-being and thus we should be concerned with inequality in health, whether or not it is correlated with inequality in other dimensions of well-being. In the measurement of health inequality, the complete range of fatal and non-fatal health outcomes should be incorporated. This notion is operationalized through the concept of healthy lifespan. Individual health expectancy is preferable, as a measurement, to individual healthy lifespan, since health expectancy excludes those differences in healthy lifespan that are simply due to chance. In other words, the quantity of interest for studying health inequality is the distribution of health expectancy across individuals in the population. The inequality of the distribution of health expectancy can be summarized by measures of individual/mean differences (differences between the individual and the mean of the population) or inter-individual differences. The exact form of the measure to summarize inequality depends on three normative choices. A firmer understanding of people's views on these normative choices will provide a basis for deliberating on a standard WHO measure of health inequality. Keywords: analysis of variance; cohort effect; health status indicators; longevity; risk factors; social justice; socioeconomic factors., Voir page 51 le resume en francais. En la pagina 52 figura un resumen en espanol. Introduction Health inequalities are prominent in the policy agenda (1-20). Average achievement is no [...]

Both health inequalities and social group health differences are important aspects of measuring population health. Despite widespread recognition of their magnitude in many high- and low-income countries, there is considerable debate about the meaning and measurement of health inequalities, social group health differences and inequities. The lack of standard definitions, measurement strategies and indicators has and will continue to limit comparisons -- between and within countries, and over time -- of health inequalities, and perhaps more importantly comparative analyses of their determinants. Such comparative work, however, will be essential to find effective policies for governments to reduce health inequalities. This article addresses the question of whether we should be measuring health inequalities or social group health differences. To help clarify the strengths and weaknesses of these two approaches, we review some of the major arguments for and against each of them., Voir page 541 le resume en francais. En la pagina 541 figura un resumen en espanol. Introduction Inequalities in health, both between and within populations, are a major public concern [...]