Social Policy and Inequality in Latin America: A Review of Recent Trends

Abstract

Abstracts pol_667 347..363Most Latin American countries have extensive social policies which absorb high levels of state spending. Despite this, Latin America continues to suffer from high levels of inequality in terms of income and access to basic services. This article explores this apparent paradox. It focuses on three aspects of social policy in the region: patterns of resource allocation, the distribution of welfare entitlements and differing capacities to take advantage of these entitlements. It applies this framework to study the distributional effects of education, health and social security policies, paying particular attention to recent changes and developments. The article shows that these three factors combine in various ways to benefit higher-income groups and exclude the poor. Recent changes have marginally improved provision for low-income groups, but the fundamentally inegalitarian nature of social policy in the region remains largely unchanged and unchallenged.

What is hindering progress? The marginalization of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights in Brazil and Chile

“…Structural inequalities by gender -as well as class, race, and ethnicity -can reinforce barriers to access and must be accounted for in any discussion of universalism (Ravindran, 2012). In Latin America, despite shifts towards universalism, inequalities of access continue, with wealthier groups continuing to benefit more from expanded services (Frenz and Vega, 2010;Lloyd-Sherlock, 2009) and access differentiated by gender and race (Diniz et al, 2012; ECLAC/UNFPA, 2010; Ewig, 2010). The need to overcome inequalities thus remains a significant constraint to more equitable access to health care services.…”

Community and household socioeconomic factors associated with pesticide-using, small farm household members' health: a multi-level, longitudinal analysis

“…From the mid-90's to the mid 2000's, gradients in resources were either persistent (Carchi parishes) or worsened (Chimborazo province), particularly in indigenous cantons (Guamote, Riobamba) (p 26) [ 11 ]. We can describe these heterogeneities as inequities [ 1 ] attributable to the combined effects of: a historical legacy of hierarchy and social stratification [ 4 ]; persistent ignoring of farmers' rights by politicians and farmers [ 19 ]; in-egalitarian social policy for decades [ 35 ]; declining productivity among smallholder farmers [ 36 ]; and unequal globalization [ 10 ], a widespread underlying reason for inequities in health [ 37 ]. Our study demonstrates inequities at a more micro level to complement others' more macro findings [ 7 - 9 , 11 ].…”

Crowding Out or Welfare Promotion? How Foreign Aid Affects Social Expenditures in Latin American Welfare Systems

“…Education is a key element in poverty relief and in the fight against social and economic inequality. Lower income groups mainly profit from public spending on education and health care even though services in Latin America are still very ‘inegalitarian’ (Lloyed‐Sherlock : 347). As social security is most beneficial for a smaller, more powerful circle of social elites (e.g.…”

“…For this purpose I use the Gini coefficient from Solt's () SWIID Version 4.0 data set. However, despite tremendous rates of income inequality, governments in Latin America only slowly increase welfare expenditures, while, at the same time, social programmes do not seem to reduce the income gap because of regressive spending patterns (see Lloyed‐Sherlock ). Corruption and the Gini coefficient are added as a robustness test.…”