• cheese_greater@lemmy.worldOP
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    edit-2
    21 days ago

    Why not do the lowest, at the very least there’s a median which is disproprotionate already. Might as well be logarathmic or whatever

    Why have a median then, middle class?

    • Lauchs@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      21 days ago

      The lowest are likely to have serious issues and not be particularly helpful (how well the paperboy, special needs cashier etc is not particularly representative or useful.)

      We also have measures that capture most of what you’re looking for there in the poverty rate.

      What might be helpful is stuff like the interquartile ranges (think medians but more of them) or specific medians e.g., what’s the median for the bottom twenty, bottom forty etc.

      Measures at the extremes are rarely very helpful except for arguing in ignorance or bad faith.