Abstract
This article adopts the concept of development as freedom and the relationship between income and capabilities to analyze and compare macroeconomic, demographic and poverty trends and inequalities in Latin American and the Caribbean countries, and the responses from governments to promote the inclusion of the poorest and marginalized population groups in development and policies. Differences in population structures indicate that poverty and gender, generational and race inequalities fragment societies. Policies oriented to reduce poverty have been implemented with a set of combined programs such as cash transfers articulated with actions in nutrition, health, education, day-care programs for poor children, civil registration and other programs to promote poverty reduction and the conciliation of domestic and work life for poor women and social protection. Some good practices are discussed, particularly in Brazil and Mexico. During the last 15 years, the Conditioned Cash Transfers programs raised public support and political consensus, guaranteeing continuity in their implementation, development and integration with other social protection programs. Currently there are 18 countries implementing such programs, covering approximately 25 million households and over 133 million people, representing 19% of the Latin American and Caribbean. Policies to reduce poverty, in combination with income distribution and social protection in nutrition, health, education, civil registration and day-care for children, have contributed to human development, and also promoted internal market of consumers, even in rural areas, mobilizing local economies and promoting the return of investments to development. Despite the economic crisis in 2008-2009, Latin America had a relatively good performance in the world economy, demonstrating that social and economic inclusion can be compatible with development. That positive balance is fundamental to guarantee the inclusion of rural, indigenous, women and youth in access to services, as well as to reducing poverty and inequalities in the region.
Highlights
Amartya Sen (1999) defines development as liberty and poverty as capability deprivation, since a low level of income affects people’s capabilities in education, health, survival, work, and other rights
Latin American and the Caribbean countries are ranked higher than India, most of them on a pair with China, Brazil is in the middle and some are up to Russia, in level of Gross National Income per capita, in poverty reduction and Human Development Index (HDI), but mainly in non-income components of HDI, education and life-expectancy
Women with a higher level at education are more often working, planning their lives, have higher expectations of the future and have fewer children. Illiterate women and those with lower education level have more children, dedicate more time to domestic work and do not have social protection to reconcile domestic and work life, facing difficulties to enter in the labor market and to receive higher wages to contribute to their families budget and escape poverty (Gomes, 2007)
Summary
Received September 13th, 2012; revised October 20th, 2012; accepted November 3rd, 2012. This article adopts the concept of development as freedom and the relationship between income and capabilities to analyze and compare macroeconomic, demographic and poverty trends and inequalities in Latin American and the Caribbean countries, and the responses from governments to promote the inclusion of the poorest and marginalized population groups in development and policies. Policies oriented to reduce poverty have been implemented with a set of combined programs such as cash transfers articulated with actions in nutrition, health, education, day-care programs for poor children, civil registration and other programs to promote poverty reduction and the conciliation of domestic and work life for poor women and social protection. In combination with income distribution and social protection in nutrition, health, education, civil registration and day-care for children, have contributed to human development, and promoted internal market of consumers, even in rural areas, mobilizing local economies and promoting the return of investments to development. That positive balance is fundamental to guarantee the inclusion of rural, indigenous, women and youth in access to services, as well as to reducing poverty and inequalities in the region
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