Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean : Breaking with History?

by De Ferranti, David M.; Perry, Guillermo E.; Ferreira, Francisco H. G.; Walton, Michael; De Ferranti, David M.

• ISBN13: 9780821356654
• ISBN10: 0821356658
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-27
• Publisher: World Bank

Summary

With the exception of Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean has been one of the regions of the world with the greatest inequality.'Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean' explores why the region suffers from such persistent inequality, identifies how it hampers development, and suggests ways to achieve greater equity in the distribution of wealth, incomes and opportunities. The study draws on data from 20 countries based on household surveys covering 3.6 million people, and reviews extensive economic, sociological and political science studies on inequality in Latin America.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Summary	1	(16)
Introduction: Motivation and Conceptual Framework	17	(16)
A conceptual framework	18	(6)
The consequences of high inequality	24	(9)
Part I: The Nature of Inequality in Latin America	33	(74)
Different Lives: Inequality in Latin America	35	(42)
Some conceptual issues	35	(2)
Income inequality and beyond	37	(11)
Measurement-related issues and data limitations	48	(5)
Inequality in Latin America in perspective	53	(4)
Looking inside household income	57	(9)
Inequality beyond income	66	(5)
Conclusions	71	(6)
Group-Based Inequalities: The Roles of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender	77	(30)
Who are the people of Latin America?	78	(6)
Inequality among individuals during the lifecycle	84	(12)
Would income inequality decline if returns to human capital were more equal?	96	(8)
Conclusions	104	(3)
Part II: The Determinants of Inequality in Latin America	107	(68)
Historical Roots of Inequality in Latin America	109	(14)
Factor endowments, inequality, and institutions	109	(3)
The persistence of inequality: The colonial period	112	(1)
The persistence of inequality: Post-independence	112	(8)
The 20th century	120	(2)
The 21st century and beyond	122	(1)
State-Society Interactions as Sources of Persistence and Change in Inequality	123	(26)
Political and social structures as forces for the reproduction of inequality	125	(9)
The potential for equalizing political and social change	134	(11)
Conclusions	145	(4)
Economic Mechanisms for the Persistence of High Inequality in Latin America	149	(26)
Asset distributions: Education and land	151	(6)
Job match quality	157	(4)
Remuneration in the labor markets	161	(4)
Household formation	165	(8)
Conclusions	173	(2)
Part III: Policies for Lower Inequality	175	(110)
Policies on Assets and Services	177	(40)
Education	177	(12)
Property rights, land, and housing	189	(15)
Infrastructure services and the distributional impact of privatization	204	(11)
Conclusions	215	(2)
Policies on Markets and Institutions	217	(30)
Markets and inequality	217	(7)
Labor market policies and inequality	224	(3)
Inequality and macroeconomic crises	227	(16)
Conclusions	243	(4)
Taxation, Public Expenditures, and Transfers	247	(38)
Taxes and distribution	248	(9)
Public social spending and distribution	257	(11)
Cash transfers and distribution	268	(12)
Conclusions	280	(5)
Statistical Appendix	285	(66)
Bibliography	351