In this paper, we use two different methods to compare changes in income polarization across different population groups (by gender, occupational status, education, age, residential area and state of birth) during the Great Recession in Italy. By using data from the latest wave of the Survey on Household Income and Wealth by the Bank of Italy, first we decompose the Duclos et al. (Econometrica 72:1737–1772, 2004) polarization index by population group. Second, we employ the Relative Distribution Approach by group. Comparing income distributions between 2006 and 2016, our results show a general downgrading of low-educated, young, southern and foreign heads of household coming out of the crisis. Young people and especially foreigners have suffered the most from the crisis. The lowest (highest) homogeneity within groups and the lowest (highest) heterogeneity between groups is observed when groups are formed on the basis of the state of birth (residential area). Thus, the decomposition of the polarization indices by population group is able to provide specific useful policy indications tailored to the needs of particular groups.

在本文中，我们使用两种不同的方法来比较意大利大萧条期间不同人群（按性别，职业状况，教育程度，年龄，居住地区和出生状况）的收入极化变化。通过使用意大利银行最新一轮的《家庭收入和财富调查》中的数据，我们首先分解了Duclos等人。（Econometrica 72：1737–1772，2004）按人口群体划分的极化指数。其次，我们按组采用相对分布方法。比较2006年至2016年的收入分布，我们的结果显示，受危机影响的低学历，年轻，南方和外国户主的总体评级被降低。年轻人，尤其是外国人受这场危机的影响最大。当根据出生状态（居住区）形成组时，可以观察到组内最低（最高）同质性，最低组间（最高）异质性。因此，按人群划分的极化指数能够提供适合特定人群需求的特定有用政策指示。