This major two-volume collection focuses on the economics of distributional equity and the way general criteria for comparisons of income-distribution can be used to inform the analysis of inequality and poverty. The issues addressed include: * the nature of general ranking rules for comparing economic states based on simple ethical principles; * the close relationship between the analysis of poverty and that of inequality or social welfare; * the structure and properties of inequality and poverty indices. In addition to covering theoretical and empirical questions, the development of the subject is set in historical context. The extensive new introduction by the editor explains the relationship between the various component topics. These insightful volumes will be an essential source of reference for students, researchers and practitioners.