What does the ethnic fractionalization index measure?

The ethnic fractionalization index specifically measures the likelihood that two randomly selected individuals from a population belong to different ethnic groups. This index quantifies the degree of diversity within a society by taking into account the relative sizes of various ethnic groups. A higher index indicates greater fractionalization and diversity, suggesting a higher likelihood that selected individuals are from distinct groups. This measure is particularly useful in sociological research as it helps to understand social dynamics, interactions among various ethnic communities, and potential implications for social cohesion or conflict.

The other options do not directly relate to the core concept of the ethnic fractionalization index. For instance, looking at average income of ethnic groups provides socio-economic data, while the diversity of languages spoken pertains more to linguistic variation rather than ethnic diversity. Similarly, the prevalence of ethnic conflicts would be a consequence of ethnic relations but not a direct measure of how ethnically fractionalized a society is. Therefore, the focus on the likelihood of selecting individuals from different ethnic groups is what distinguishes this index as a critical tool in analyzing ethnic diversity.