A Break with History : Fifteen Years of Inequality Reduction in Latin America

World Bank

dc.creator	World Bank
dc.date	2012-03-19T10:12:31Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T10:12:31Z
dc.date	2011-04
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-17T20:41:05Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-17T20:41:05Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000356161_20110421005612
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2747
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/243115
dc.description	In 2004 the World Bank released a regional report titled 'Inequality in Latin America: Breaking with History?' Analyzing data from the early 1990s to the early 2000s, a period in which many countries in the region were experiencing increasing inequality, this study raised the question of whether Latin America could reverse its historical pattern of high and persistent inequality. The report concluded that although not easy, breaking with history was more than ever possible in the region. An additional decade of data presented in this brief shows that it was possible, mainly due to changes in labor markets (including a reduction in educational inequality and the skill premia, and greater female labor force participation), a higher incidence of government transfers, and additional factors such as demographic changes. The decrease in inequality is driven mostly by improvements in labor income, particularly a reduction in skill premiums, reflecting improved access to education as well as other factors. In contrast to the recent Latin American trends, Asia is witnessing rising inequality, pushed up by China and India - where income has traditionally been more equal. However, inequality remains very high in Latin America, with levels significantly above other middle income countries. As Latin America enters a new decade, it does so knowing that inequality reduction is possible in the region.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	World Bank
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	ACCESS TO EDUCATION
dc.subject	ADVERSE IMPACTS
dc.subject	ANDEAN REGION
dc.subject	ANNUAL CHANGE
dc.subject	ANNUAL RATE
dc.subject	ANNUALIZED % CHANGE
dc.subject	BASIC FOOD BASKET
dc.subject	CARIBBEAN REGION
dc.subject	CASH TRANSFERS
dc.subject	CHRONIC POVERTY
dc.subject	COUNTERFACTUAL
dc.subject	DATA COLLECTION
dc.subject	DECLINING INEQUALITY
dc.subject	DEMAND-SIDE
dc.subject	DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES
dc.subject	DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
dc.subject	DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
dc.subject	DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
dc.subject	DISPOSABLE INCOME
dc.subject	DISTRIBUTIONAL IMPACT
dc.subject	DOWNWARD BIAS
dc.subject	ELASTICITY
dc.subject	EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
dc.subject	EQUAL DISTRIBUTION
dc.subject	EQUALIZING EFFECT
dc.subject	EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
dc.subject	EXOGENOUS SHOCKS
dc.subject	EXTREME POVERTY
dc.subject	EXTREME POVERTY LINE
dc.subject	FARMING ACTIVITIES
dc.subject	FEMALE PARTICIPATION
dc.subject	FOOD BASKET
dc.subject	FOOD PRICES
dc.subject	GINI COEFFICIENT
dc.subject	GINI INDEX
dc.subject	GROSS INCOME
dc.subject	HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
dc.subject	HOUSEHOLD INCOME
dc.subject	HOUSEHOLD PER CAPITA INCOME
dc.subject	HOUSEHOLD SIZE
dc.subject	HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
dc.subject	HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
dc.subject	HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
dc.subject	HUMAN CAPITAL
dc.subject	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	IMPACTS ON POVERTY
dc.subject	INCOME DATA
dc.subject	INCOME DISTRIBUTION
dc.subject	INCOME INEQUALITY
dc.subject	INCOME LEVELS
dc.subject	INCOME POVERTY
dc.subject	INCOME QUINTILE
dc.subject	INCOME QUINTILES
dc.subject	INCOME SHARE
dc.subject	INCOME SOURCE
dc.subject	INCOME SOURCES
dc.subject	INCOMES
dc.subject	INCOMES AT THE TOP OF THE DISTRIBUTION
dc.subject	INCREASING INEQUALITY
dc.subject	INEQUALITY
dc.subject	INEQUALITY CHANGES
dc.subject	INEQUALITY MEASURES
dc.subject	INEQUALITY REDUCTION
dc.subject	INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT
dc.subject	INSURANCE
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS
dc.subject	LABOR DEMAND
dc.subject	LABOR FORCE
dc.subject	LABOR INCOME
dc.subject	LABOR MARKET
dc.subject	LABOR MARKETS
dc.subject	LIFE EXPECTANCY
dc.subject	MALNUTRITION
dc.subject	MARKET INCOME
dc.subject	MEAN LOG DEVIATION
dc.subject	MEDIUM LEVELS
dc.subject	MIDDLE CLASS
dc.subject	MONETARY TRANSFERS
dc.subject	NATIONAL POVERTY
dc.subject	NATIONAL POVERTY LINE
dc.subject	NET EFFECT
dc.subject	NET IMPACT
dc.subject	PENSIONS
dc.subject	PERSISTENT INEQUALITY
dc.subject	POLICY RESEARCH
dc.subject	POLITICAL ECONOMY
dc.subject	POOR
dc.subject	POOR CHILDREN
dc.subject	POOR RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
dc.subject	POSITIVE IMPACT
dc.subject	POVERTY GAP
dc.subject	POVERTY INCIDENCE
dc.subject	POVERTY INCREASES
dc.subject	POVERTY INDEX
dc.subject	POVERTY LEVELS
dc.subject	POVERTY RATE
dc.subject	POVERTY RATES
dc.subject	POVERTY REDUCTION
dc.subject	PRIMARY EDUCATION
dc.subject	PRIVATE TRANSFERS
dc.subject	PROGRAMS
dc.subject	PUBLIC TRANSFERS
dc.subject	QUESTIONNAIRES
dc.subject	REDUCING INEQUALITY
dc.subject	REDUCING POVERTY
dc.subject	REDUCTION OF INEQUALITY
dc.subject	REGIONAL REPORT
dc.subject	REPEATED SHOCKS
dc.subject	RISING INEQUALITY
dc.subject	RURAL
dc.subject	RURAL POOR
dc.subject	RURAL POVERTY
dc.subject	SAFETY NET
dc.subject	SAFETY NET SYSTEMS
dc.subject	SAFETY NETS
dc.subject	SANITATION
dc.subject	SCHOOLING
dc.subject	SECTORAL COMPOSITION
dc.subject	SKILL PREMIUM
dc.subject	SKILLED EMPLOYMENT
dc.subject	SKILLED LABOR
dc.subject	SKILLED WORKERS
dc.subject	SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
dc.subject	SUB-REGIONS
dc.subject	SUBREGIONS
dc.subject	SURVEY DESIGN
dc.subject	TARGETING
dc.subject	TAXATION
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT
dc.subject	VULNERABLE GROUPS
dc.subject	WAGE INEQUALITY
dc.subject	WAGES
dc.subject	WELFARE MEASURES
dc.subject	WELL-BEING
dc.title	A Break with History : Fifteen Years of Inequality Reduction in Latin America
dc.type	Economic & Sector Work :: Other Poverty Study
dc.coverage	Latin America & Caribbean
dc.coverage	Latin America