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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| Accès en ligne: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.11131 |
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| _version_ | 1866917491846938624 |
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| author | Hippeläinen, Antti |
| author_facet | Hippeläinen, Antti |
| contents | We formalize a generalized form of the Pareto principle - ``fraction $p$ of inputs yields fraction $1-p$ of outputs'' - as a property of non-negative gain densities $\ell \in L^1([0,1])$, working with the decreasing rearrangement to obtain a unique characterization. For probability distributions, the resulting $p$ coincides with $1 - k_F$, where $k_F$ is the Kolkata index of the corresponding Lorenz curve. Within this framework we analyze both constructed gain densities and commonly encountered distribution families. We derive closed-form expressions for $p$ for truncated power-law, exponential, and normal distribution families. Combining these with estimates of the truncation parameter as a function of sample size $N$, we predict that datasets of size $N \in [10^2, 10^5]$ from exponential and normal families concentrate $p$ near $[0.15, 0.26]$ and $[0.20, 0.29]$ - values close to the canonical 0.2/0.8-rule, and strictly below the saturation $k \approx 0.865$ conjectured earlier by Ghosh and Chakrabarti. We discuss the implications of the structural ubiquity of Pareto-type imbalances for their use as prescriptive targets. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_11131 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Formalization of the generalized Pareto principle and structural typicality of the 20/80-rule Hippeläinen, Antti Physics and Society Statistics Theory We formalize a generalized form of the Pareto principle - ``fraction $p$ of inputs yields fraction $1-p$ of outputs'' - as a property of non-negative gain densities $\ell \in L^1([0,1])$, working with the decreasing rearrangement to obtain a unique characterization. For probability distributions, the resulting $p$ coincides with $1 - k_F$, where $k_F$ is the Kolkata index of the corresponding Lorenz curve. Within this framework we analyze both constructed gain densities and commonly encountered distribution families. We derive closed-form expressions for $p$ for truncated power-law, exponential, and normal distribution families. Combining these with estimates of the truncation parameter as a function of sample size $N$, we predict that datasets of size $N \in [10^2, 10^5]$ from exponential and normal families concentrate $p$ near $[0.15, 0.26]$ and $[0.20, 0.29]$ - values close to the canonical 0.2/0.8-rule, and strictly below the saturation $k \approx 0.865$ conjectured earlier by Ghosh and Chakrabarti. We discuss the implications of the structural ubiquity of Pareto-type imbalances for their use as prescriptive targets. |
| title | Formalization of the generalized Pareto principle and structural typicality of the 20/80-rule |
| topic | Physics and Society Statistics Theory |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.11131 |